brit restaurant recommendations

rickhasco

Mouseketeer
Joined
Jul 13, 2003
Messages
109
i'm going out to orlando in mid september with dw staying on i-drive and wanted some brit feedback on these restaurants which we're planning to visit. any views are greatly appreciated,
thanks, rick

bahama breeze
cafe tu tu tango
crab house
don pablos
olive garden
race rock
planet hollywood
hard rock cafe
nascar
adobe gila
xs
butcher shop
charley's lobster/steakhouse
damons
 
I'll give you views on the ones I've visited.

Bahama Breeze, good food and a decent price, the one on I-Drive can get pretty busy with a long wait although there is often live reggae music outside where you can enjoy the music, a beer and an appetiser. Pretty big portions and some good deserts. I visit one of the Bahama Breezes pretty much every trip, usually the one near crossroads as it doesn't get as busy. The offer free valet parking which at I-drive is really a must as it can take you ages to find a place and for a couple of $s for a tip well worth it.

Olive Garden is another regular, for the quality of the food it has to be one of the best value places around. Decent sized portions and as most entrees come with a choice of soup/salad you really don't need a starter. Again this can get busy so it's best to arrive in plenty of time, there is a small bar at most of the Olive Gardens and again they will do appetisers at the bar. There are a number of different branches around and they're all pretty good IMHO.

Planet Hollywood I'm not a big fan of and I gave it another try this trip because Jana was keen to go. Food was OK but a little pricey, service was pretty poor and it was VERY loud in the restaurant. I know that's part of the ambiance, but there is a fine line between giving atmosphere and making conversation on a table for two impossible, they were the wrong side of the line.

Hard Rock Cafe, It's really in the same genre as PH (see above) but IMHO the food's a better quality and a better choice, the service has always been good and the music (while loud) adds not detracts fromt he over all experience. It outscores PH in pretty much every department and that takes to a restaurant that I would return to on a regular basis.

Damon's was pretty much run of the mill from what I can remember no great real feelings one way or another. There are dozens of restaurants like this. TGIF, Tony Roma's, Red Lobster , Hooters all these type of places will give you a reasonable meal at a reasonable price with one or two slight differences in presentation or menu style.

If there are just the two of you I think there are a couple of great choices for special evenings out. Tchoup Chop at Universal's Royal Pacific Resort was an absolutely outstanding meal, Emeril's at Citywalk and Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville also at Citywalk are all good places (JB's is the most reasonably priced of the three). The Cheececake factory at the Mall at the Millenium is also a very good place to eat if you were planing to visit the mall. Good reports on Cafe tutu Tango, but I've not been myself.
 
Two of our best meals in January were Hard Rock & Nascar, but we do try & time it so we aren't there at peak time. Also went to PH (in part as we got $10 off) & food was stereotypical, but DD (3) enjoyed it & ate it so, to a certain degree the rest is insignificant!
 
Did Bahama Breeze, Olive Garden and Race Rock at Easter and all fine. My DS did find the sauce for the ribs a little spicy at Race Rock but DH and myself thought they were tender and good. Haven't done Damons for ages we found that the quality fluctuated a bit. Possibly Tony Romas is better. We are very much in the minority, because have done Planet Hollywood loads and had a good meal every time. Lucky I guess. We also haven't done the Butchers Shop for many years, but it used to be a favourite when The Mercado was a bit more lively. Carolyn
 

We loved Cafe Tu Tu Tango. The night we were there the staff were all dressed as superheroes. Our food was served by a Mutant Ninja Turtle ! The atmosphere is unusual. The Friday night we were there there was a palm reader, belly-dancers, an artist, a characturist, and a face painter. You HAVE to do this place.

I agree with Vernon about the Olive Garden, or the Olive Grove as my wife insists it's called.
 
We loved Cafe Tu Tu Tango, really nice atmosphere, nice selection of food, and we wished we hadn't left it til our last night!

For the Desserts alone, you have to go to Friendly's, it's not on your list, but we found ourselves there each night for a dessert - they are yummy!

Heid
xx
 
We've done a few of these so maybe I can help

olive garden on I Drive, great food, good atmosphere especially when the waiter gave us the bill and we were almost charged for 300 desserts instead of 3 within 2 minutes and after a few laughs, all of the waiters gave us a fantastic rendition of 'that's amore' around our table - class


Race Rock, good for lunch, good prices, good portions and good quality - worth a visit.


Planet Hollywood - overrated


XS - good for the kids and decent food, works out pricey if the kids are on the simulators all night, better off between 12 noon and 6pm in order to take advantage of the unlimited simulator ticket which was $25 when we were there


butcher shop - good quality steakhouse


charley's steakhouse - Best Steakhouse in Orlando by miles IMHO, do not miss. More expensive but you get what you pay for. Once saw Nick Faldo in there.
 
Planet Hollywood - don't waste your time

Hard Rock Cafe - Very entertaining. The kids and I loved it. DW didn't (doesn't like loud rock music!).

Charley's Steakhouse - went there for my BIG Five Oh!. Superb steaks but its a bit expensive. Special occasions only, unless you can afford it.

Motown Cafe at CityWalk is another interesting restaurant, worth a visit.

Rainforest Cafe - a bit pricey but the kids'll love it. The adults will too!! Only problem is the queues at Downtown Disney. I'm told the AK one is smaller and not as good.

Don't forget the better Value for Money restaurants Red Lobster, Outback Steakhouse, Carrabbas, Olive Garden - all are excellent value.

We haven't been to Ponderosa, Sizzler or Golden Corral for years, since we found the four above. The slight extra cost IS worth it.
 
Olive Garden: Fantastic value for excellent food.

Planet Hollywood: Worth a visit just once for the experience - food at best is only adequate though.

Butcher Shop: On our last visit in November this had unfortunately closed (don't know if it has re-opened though) - used to do great steak and the best jacket potato anywhere.

Charley's Steakhouse: Wonderful steaks and ambience - worth every cent.
 
just a little note to say a big thanks for all the replies. it has certainly helped make some difficult decisions a lot easier.
thanks again,
rick
:cool: :cool:
 
Cafe Tu Tu Tango?
Havent seen anyone comment on this before, and it sounds really good hence the questions:-
Where is it located? I-drive, Citywalk?
Do you have to book?
Is it a buffet?

Anymore help would be useful

Thanks
CJ
 
Cafe Tu Tu Tango is one of my all time faves, it's a serves great food tapas style and the menu is wonderful.

Nascar - Unfortunately didn't rate this as much as Race Rock

Race Rock - Brilliant, great food, good portions and the kids absolutely love it!

Hard Rock - again one of my faves

Charley's - Fabulous steaks, you could also try Vitos Chop House on I-Drive although still expensive but it's part of the same group so you can guarantee quality.

Olive Garden - not yet tried Orlando one yet, but have tried and would heartily recommend... Carabbas and Bupo (Buco?) de Beppos at the Florida Mall.

Motown - not tried

Rainforest - a must do just to be entertained!! The food is good too although a bit pricey.

Planet Hollywood - not as good as Hard Rock imho.

Bahama Breeze - this is one of my must do's this year!!

Lisa
 
I'd avoid the Rainforest Cafe at Animal Kingdom. The food is overpriced, the service is appalling and the air-conditioning is on way too cold. If you do a search you'll find that opinion is divided. Some love it, some don't.
 
Any stay on International Drive must include at least one visit to Darryl's, if only for the twice smashed baked potato. Awesome.

I would also recommend a visit to the B-Line Diner within the Peabody Hotel for a truly memorable experience.

Off your list make the Hard Rock Cafe and Race Rock must do's and try and fit the others in around them.

ENJOY, my mouth is watering.....

Julian
 
Fulton's Crab House is lovely, really amazing food and as it was my birthday I had a free piece of birthday cheesecake, mmmmmm!!
 
I would give adobe gila's a miss unless you are into hard rock bars. Lunchtime is OK, but evening is loud music and bar type food.

You might try 'Johnny Rockets' in pointe orlando. A 50's style diner / hamburger bar

C
 
What???....two pages into a restaurant thread and no mention of Beaches & Cream ;) :p

We can't have that.

Try B&C, if only for the milkshakes, but they also do lovely burgers and great deserts.

Perfect location for your EPCOT day too.

I've made myself hungry now :)

Craig
 








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