Dining off property, but close - recommendations

[jmsvss]

I am somewhat discouraged by the dining reviews of most Disney restaurants. Also, I decided upon a trip only about 40 days out so ADR options are not optimal. I am looking for dining recommendations off Disney property but not too far away (more than 20 minute driving). It is just DD15 and I. I am not a huge fan of fast food or buffets. We are staying at Pop and will probably drive to the parks each day in December. Any suggestions?

 

[dnlsmith]

We ate at Bahama Breeze and we really liked it. It is by Seaworld.

It is really noisy though!

 

[CarolA]

There are several chain resturants in Lake Buena Vista just outside Downtown Disney.

The one's that come to mind as I sit here are

Friday's
Hooters (Hey I like the wings)
Bahama Breeze. (Apparently different location from the one above as it's not really near SeaWorld)
Joe's Crab Shack
Laundry's Seafood
Chili's



It's not an area with a lot of good "local" resturants, but there are good options.

Over near the outlet mall is a chain Italian whose name escapes me and a Panara Bread.

One of my favorites is Quoda Mexican Grill. But it's kind of a "fast food like". (I like the Mexican Gumbo!)

 

[DOOM1001]

Tons of restaurants on International Drive between Sea World and the north end of I-Drive.Some that come to mind are Texas de Brazil,Bahama Breeze, Cafe Tu Tu Tango,Pizzeria Uno,Sweet Tomatoes,The Oceanaire Seafood room,Capital Grille,Maggianos and many others.Sand lake road on the other side of I-4 is known as restaurant row and has other places like Ruth's Chris,Morton's,Season's 52,The Melting Pot and Samba Room.You can also go another 5 minutes north at the Mall of Millenia you have Chesecake Factory,Brio Tuscan Grill,PF Changs and Blue Martini.

 

[jmsvss]

Thanks for the feedback - its all coming back to me now. We stayed at a place near DTD several years ago and I do remember numerous options. Our last three trips have been on property without a car and I don't really remember the lay of the land that well. Ideally we will find a place for dinner as we are driving from the park back to Pop at the end of the day.

Thanks!

 

[ToddyLu]

They had a really good review on the Dis Unplugged a couple of weeks ago-not this past week. They reviewed several places close by....check it out.

 

[Mouse511]

I'm glad we found this thread. We rented a car for our last WDW trip and decided to eat off property, but because it was our first time we weren't quite sure where to eat so we stuck with the chains. Looks like we need to head over to International Drive on our next trip in February. Thanks for the info.

 

[JimMIA]

...Ruth's Chris,Morton's...

I like both, although the Ruth's Chris in Winter Park is awful. Texas de Brazil is also excellent...if you like that kind of thing.

But for a really fine steak, I would go to Charley's. There are several locations in Orlando, including two on I-Drive. Really wonderful steakhouse. Great steaks, perfectly cooked, outstanding service.

Another very good restaurant nearby is Columbia in Celebration, FL. Columbia is a legendary Spanish (not Cuban) restaurant, with the original in the old city area of Ybor City in Tampa. Great food, very gracious service, very good value. If you like beer, try the Ybor City Gold.

OP - I think your anxiety over Disney dining is well-founded. The quality has really tanked over the last 3-4 years. It's good food, adequately prepared. You won't go hungry, and you won't get sick.

But many of the restaurants tend to be madhouses -- the noise levels are deafening, the staff tries hard, but they're overwhelmed -- it's a place to eat, but it's certainly not a pleasant dining experience in most of the TS outlets.

And most of the restaurants serve the same dishes with a little twist to make it seem different. It's not different -- it's the same stuff, night after night.

We formerly did DDP, but will never go back to Disney dining. We're actually thankful that Disney dining drove us off!

 

[JimMIA]

...but because it was our first time we weren't quite sure where to eat so we stuck with the chains.

Even if a family sticks with "the chains," at least you are eating in chains-plural. Eat at a chain and you'll get consistently good food. Maybe not the finest food on the planet, but you'll get what you think you're ordering and it will be good quality. To get a variety of food, you simply go to a different chain and pick your poison by your choice of chain.

With the Disney outlets, you're also dining at a chain...but singular. Many of the items are pre-cooked at central kitchens and there is little real difference from restaurant to restaurant. Steak, chicken, salmon...you choose.

If you're only there 3-4 nights, Disney dining is not too bad. But if you're there much longer, it will all start tasting the same...because it IS the same.

 

[NJFireman22]

In October my Dw and I desided to try a new place in Lake Buena Vista,
it was Johnny's Hideaway. We thought it was just great, from the service to the Wine list. A bit pricey but well worth it. This place is a nice change, from
the "Worlds" dinning places. I totally enjoyed our evening, the food was perfect.
We cant wait to go back the end of Dec.

 

[jmsvss]

Not to ambush my own thread but I think my concerns about Disney dining are:
1. My Disney experience should be about Disney and not about making it to the restaurant that holds the ADR that I made 180 days prior.
2. At one time you could go to Disney "without a plan" and still have a chance at a table service meal.
3. I do have higher expectations of Disney dining. Why shouldn't I? For many restaurants I must pay a park admission and then pay for the meal. I have expectations that Disney used to meet with no problem (I even bought the cookbook). But I feel they have let some of their standards slip.
4. Disney is a business and they cannot possibly offer "free dining" and other plans without making a profit somewhere.

So, if I have a choice I will choose to limit the number of meals i consume on site because i feel Disney that this is an area Disney has let slip. I still love Disney and if/when things change I'll be back to frequent Disney dining.

 

[kpadalik]

We like Uno Chicago Pizzeria on 535. If you follow the road in front of Downtown Disney along Hotel Plaza Blvd, you will exit the Disney Resort and Uno will be right in front of you. It's in the Crossroads Plaza.

 

[TotoToo]

I like both, although the Ruth's Chris in Winter Park is awful. Texas de Brazil is also excellent...if you like that kind of thing.

But for a really fine steak, I would go to Charley's. There are several locations in Orlando, including two on I-Drive. Really wonderful steakhouse. Great steaks, perfectly cooked, outstanding service.

We love Charley's for a classic sit down dinner - never disappointed. Texas De Brazil also a favorite for something different. But the best steakhouse we've enjoyed in Orlando is Del Frisco's Highly recommended.

 

[SusanDK]

We love Charley's for a classic sit down dinner - never disappointed. Texas De Brazil also a favorite for something different. But the best steakhouse we've enjoyed in Orlando is Del Frisco's Highly recommended.

Del Frisco's looks really good. Could you give an idea of price range? Similar to a Morton's, Ruths Chris, etc.?

We did not like Charley's. Very bad service experience and we weren't fond of the seasoning they add to the steaks.

Susan

 

[TotoToo]

Del Frisco's looks really good. Could you give an idea of price range? Similar to a Morton's, Ruths Chris, etc.?

We did not like Charley's. Very bad service experience and we weren't fond of the seasoning they add to the steaks.

Susan

As I recall they were very close in pricing to Charley's - under Ruths Chris & Morton's. Also they featured excellent side dishes for the table. Very professional service.

 

[CarolA]

Not to ambush my own thread but I think my concerns about Disney dining are:
1. My Disney experience should be about Disney and not about making it to the restaurant that holds the ADR that I made 180 days prior.
2. At one time you could go to Disney "without a plan" and still have a chance at a table service meal.
3. I do have higher expectations of Disney dining. Why shouldn't I? For many restaurants I must pay a park admission and then pay for the meal. I have expectations that Disney used to meet with no problem (I even bought the cookbook). But I feel they have let some of their standards slip.
4. Disney is a business and they cannot possibly offer "free dining" and other plans without making a profit somewhere.

So, if I have a choice I will choose to limit the number of meals i consume on site because i feel Disney that this is an area Disney has let slip. I still love Disney and if/when things change I'll be back to frequent Disney dining.

A couple of things...

1. I agree
2. It's just you and your son? In the past year or so I have "walked" up to the following:
A. Jiko
B. Rose and Crown
C. The Resturant at Morroco
D. Raglan Road

And a few others. I generally walk up to one sit down on a visit of over a few days. (I have never made a reservation LOL!) That said I agree that food has slipped. I find that the resturants out of the parks are still consistenly better. Jiko continues to have excellent food. Raglan Road (which is not owned by Disney) also has good food LOL!

One of the "tricks" I have found is that resturants NOT owned by Disney seem to not have slipped as far. That's true of the one's at Epcot too.... I think they negoiate better payment for "free food" then Disney gives thier own resturant (They had to or they would have closed LOL!)