Favourite restaurants outside of WDW?!

[Lizzybear]

We loved Cheesecake Factory. Not just for cheesecake either.. bf hates the stuff and I know he'll still have masses of choice cos the menu is so huge it has adverts inside
iHop was another favourite for breakfast and dinner, very reasonably priced, tasty food and pleasant service.
I'm not overly keen on a lot of the buffet places.. We liked Sizzler as they had a lovely salad selection but weren't impressed with Ponderosa or Golden Corral.

 

[Steve and Sarah]

I've always avoided Race Rock because 'some' of the outside theme restaurants can be a bit ropey...

Is it worth a visit then? What are the food prices like?

I've got a three year old who loves cars and stuff....

Have been to Race Rock quite a few times, food is good and prices very reasonable. If your three year old is in to cars he will love it, also from experience the waiters usually give children a couple of free tokens to play the arcade machines dotted around the resturant.

 

[Disney owl]

We enjoyed Race Rock too

 

[castanea1985]

We always visit:
Hard Rock Cafe - for the atmosphere and the hanging pink caddilac!!
Olive Garden - suits the whole family, and is scrumptious food - I always go for the seafood pasta (don't eat meat), and you get free starters and bread. Its got a more 'up market' feel than quite a lot of the other places. I love going at twilight when the little fairy lights start to twinckle!
TGI Fridays - again great atmosphere and wow - the Jack Daniels salmon with cheese and onion mash potato is to die for!!! Yum! (We had a 3 day break at the Forest of Arden recently due to DS playing in a National Golf Comp, so we went to a local TGI's - the Jack Daniel wasn't a patch on the one at the LBV TGI's.)
Enjoy.........

 

[nibby]

I knew you guys would be able to help!!!!

We would like to go out for one 'posh' meal, something on a par with California Grill or Victoria and Alberts, where would hit the spot?


Any links to menus?

Debsxx

If you want to do a seriously 'posh' meal in the sense of a taste of fabulous food, well prepared and beautifully presented in a 'grown up' environment (but not too stuffy) I would highly recommend 'The Dining Room' upstairs at Wolfgang Puck in Downtown Disney but, specifically, the Chef's Tour - this is a link to the menu http://allearsnet.com/menu/men_wpu.htm
The meal cost $75 and the wine tour to accompany it another $35 - we eat out regularly in some upmarket restaurants in London and Home Counties and this was as good as, and even better, than many of them for the price.

 

[juliebro]

Another great place for a 'posh' meal is Todd English's 'bluezoo' at the Dolphin hotel. Mainly fish dishes - but absolutely superb. Very stylish restaurant too - especially at night when you get the full impact of the lighting. You can see the menu on

http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_bz.htm

We also liked Bahama Breeze very much - never been until our most recent trip - but were very impressed by the food quality.

Julie

 

[richard_andmel]

We would like to go out for one 'posh' meal, something on a par with California Grill or Victoria and Alberts, where would hit the spot?

What about Tchoup Chop or Emerils? Emeril Lagasse is a famous American TV chef... Both of his Orlando restaurants are at Universal (not in the parks)


http://www.emerils.com/restaurants/orlando_tchoupchop/
http://www.emerils.com/restaurants/orlando_emerils/

 

[UKDEB]

Here are some of the places we've enjoyed for a 'posh' meal:

* Old Hickory Steakhouse at the Gaylord Palms. If you've never been to the Gaylord Palms, you're in for a treat before you even set foot inside the restaurant. The hotel is highly themed (very Vegas) and this restaurant is in the Everglades section. It's designed like a shack and the interior is divided into several intimate areas. This is a top-end steakhouse, so not cheap, but one of our favourites.

* Salt Island Chophouse and Fish Market on I-Drive. This is a stunning restaurant and quite incongrous amongst the strip malls of north I-Drive. Menu here.

* Ruth's Chris Steakhouse on restaurant row, West Sand Lake Road (just of I-Drive near Universal). The unassuming exterior in a new strip belies a sumptous interior. Again, not cheap, but unbelievable steaks cooked in ovens heated to 1800 degrees. Can't find any photos of the Orlando location.

* Norman's at the Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes. This is a top end restaurant on a par with V&As. Menu.

We haven't eaten at Emeril's (at CityWalk) for years, but enjoyed it when we did. We loved Tchoup Chop (Royal Pacific Resort) the first time we ate there (shortly after it opened), but were very disappointed the second. The service was unacceptably slow and they didn't seem to be looking after the place - a pity because it's stunning. We've also enjoyed several meals at The Palm (steakhouse at Hard Rock Hotel), but again, it's a while since we last ate there.

 

[UKDEB]

I've just thought of a couple more :

* Primo (Italian) at JW Marriott, Grande Lakes.

* David's Bar at the Omni Championsgate (upscale clubby sports bar).

 

[Debs Hill]

I'm getting some great ideas here!!! So, where and what is the Olive Garden that a couple of people have mentioned?
Debs

 

[paulfoel]

We loved Cheesecake Factory. Not just for cheesecake either.. bf hates the stuff and I know he'll still have masses of choice cos the menu is so huge it has adverts inside
iHop was another favourite for breakfast and dinner, very reasonably priced, tasty food and pleasant service.
I'm not overly keen on a lot of the buffet places.. We liked Sizzler as they had a lovely salad selection but weren't impressed with Ponderosa or Golden Corral.

Where is cheesecake factory?

So it does 'proper' good not just cheesecakes then ?

 

[Claire L]

Where is cheesecake factory?

So it does 'proper' good not just cheesecakes then ?

Here is the menu and they are at the Mall of Millenia Can't wait to go there been to the San Francisco CF and twice to the CF in Las Vegas

Claire

 

[Lizzybear]

Where is cheesecake factory?

So it does 'proper' good not just cheesecakes then ?

Oh yeah loads.. Be warned though the portions are enormous. You can get 'lunch size' ones before 5 and they're still big enough for 2 adults to share IMO.

 

[paulfoel]

Here is the menu and they are at the Mall of Millenia Can't wait to go there been to the San Francisco CF and twice to the CF in Las Vegas

Claire

Wheres the Mall of Millenia? Thats not the Florida Mall is it?

 

[jna]

Wheres the Mall of Millenia? Thats not the Florida Mall is it?

No, two different sites.

Florida is the older of the two and is on the corner of Orange Blossom Trail and Sand Lake Road, i.e. about half-way between I-Drive and the airport (MCO that is).

Mall at Millenia is only abour four(?) years old and is just off the I-4 up past Universal Studios. Perhaps the more up-market out of the two?

Here are a couple of links:

http://www.mallatmillenia.com/luxurious/luxurious.htm

http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=139

 

[blademankev]

Golden Corral is very good for eat as much as you want, both breakfast & dinner - one or 2 of them on the 192. Also on the 192 is a place called TJ's which did the hottest buffallo wings I've ever tasted. Has anyone else ever been here? It's 4 years since my last visit, so things could have changed, but we were never disappointed with these two choices.

 

[Cinderella@CK]

I think this is the link to the Olive Garden we had a lovely meal there on our last night in Orlando and we wished we had went there before so we could have gone twice or more! We also enjoyed Don Pablo's, TGI's, Race Rock, Dan Marinos (I'm not sure if this is still open?)...

 

[paulfoel]

No, two different sites.

Florida is the older of the two and is on the corner of Orange Blossom Trail and Sand Lake Road, i.e. about half-way between I-Drive and the airport (MCO that is).

Mall at Millenia is only abour four(?) years old and is just off the I-4 up past Universal Studios. Perhaps the more up-market out of the two?

Here are a couple of links:

http://www.mallatmillenia.com/luxurious/luxurious.htm

http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=139

OK. Always go to the Florida Mall but might have a look at the Mall at Millenia this year as well then.

 

[lexie32]

ok here's mine!!!

Outback, Red Lobster, Fishbones, Charlies steak house, Tony Romas and TGi's ( much better than at home) must say we were very dissaponted with Chill's last year it wasn't nearly as good as the one in Reading!!

Alex

 

[Debs Hill]

Bump!!