Florida Meals/Restaurant On A Budget Thread

[DearDaisyinDurham]

Wow. I feel like I have to count 15 WW points just for LOOKING at that thing.

I hear you!!! This is NOT the thread for me yet here I am drooling....
IHOP, I LOVE IHOP

 

[nokidz]

We love Cracker Barrel but I think I love the store more than the food...LOL

We also LOVE IHOP.....Yummy

Gotta vote for Cracker Barrel....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, also gotta throw in Sonny's BBQ Pit......and a Steak N Shake for good measure.......
there you have it, that is our driving meals to and fro Florida......

 

[MaryannF]

http://www.goldencorral.net/
My dh got hooked on Golden Corral when we were there in February. I found that it was fabulous the first night but when we went back later in the week, not so great. I guess it is hit and miss. We went because I had read a review on this board where someone put it on a list of must go to restaurants while visiting WDW.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

http://www.goldencorral.net/
My dh got hooked on Golden Corral when we were there in February. I found that it was fabulous the first night but when we went back later in the week, not so great. I guess it is hit and miss. We went because I had read a review on this board where someone put it on a list of must go to restaurants while visiting WDW.

Yeah, we tried it one night and it was a definite "miss" - the best thing was the pop - the food was inedible.

I second the sizzler though - it was the one US buffet that actually had well cooked vegetables. And the steak was good and cooked correctly.

For leftover meat, I also always use the steak knife at the restaurant to cut it up before leaving - it is so much easier to eat or make into sandwiches.

In the parks, I also tend to split counter service meals between my mom and I - if we're still hungry we can always order something more, but once you've purchased food - it's either eat it, walk around with it or throw it out.

A large soda at counter service restaurants is the same price as the bottle you buy from a cart but contains a lot more liquid. I also order the drinks without ice (they come out cold from the dispenser) so that I'm not wasting my money on frozen water that will either get tossed or water down the pop anyways.

 

[SandraC]

Smothered'n'covered

YIKES! Get the paddles

 

[mom22belles]

Don't forget Panera Bread. I never miss it. Affordable and mostly healthy. Fantastic baguettes. Giant salad (a good, filling one) and a slice of baguette for about $7.50. I go to the one at 8600 Vineland Avenue (near the Orlando Premium outlet mall).

I haven't tried them yet but there is one just opening up out here in Mississauga near SQ 1

 

[nokidz]

Yeah, we tried it one night and it was a definite "miss" - the best thing was the pop - the food was inedible.

I second the sizzler though - it was the one US buffet that actually had well cooked vegetables. And the steak was good and cooked correctly.

For leftover meat, I also always use the steak knife at the restaurant to cut it up before leaving - it is so much easier to eat or make into sandwiches.

In the parks, I also tend to split counter service meals between my mom and I - if we're still hungry we can always order something more, but once you've purchased food - it's either eat it, walk around with it or throw it out.

A large soda at counter service restaurants is the same price as the bottle you buy from a cart but contains a lot more liquid. I also order the drinks without ice (they come out cold from the dispenser) so that I'm not wasting my money on frozen water that will either get tossed or water down the pop anyways.

Golden Corral is hit and miss. It is like eating at a feeding trough.......LOL

 

[braddillman]

I don't like Golden Corral, and my wife is allergic to MSG and can only eat salad w/o dressing and the roast turkey. But our kids love it, especially the sundae bar. You could eat 1 giant meal here to save money, and I like to save money, but I don't want to eat 1 giant meal, it 'limits my mobility' shall we say

 

[theweave]

So many great places on here and I have tried a lot of them so let me get in here a bit!!

STEAK and SHAKE-mmmmmm Great Burgers and the milkshakes are to die for! Homemade too! They call it hand dipped I think! They have side by side ms that allow you to have two flavors in one! I love the chocolate banana one! When I was there last March, SS had 1/2 price shakes from 2-4 pm Monday to Friday! I went twice that week, why not it was next door to my hotel!!! *LOL*

WAFFLE HOUSE- I noticed a PP said to visit one from 2 am to 5 am. Glad I didn't do that in 2008! There was one down the street from where we were staying on Orange Blossom Trail that was robbed by two guys at around 3:30 in the morning! EEK! I have eaten there twice and it is not bad but not great either. When I was a teenager, they had All you can eat one time and you could order anything on the menu!! You could get a waffle, than a burger, than a steak, than eggs..... did it once, never again! Well probably because they never had it again!

MC D's- I love McDonalds, US or Canada so I go to them all the time. Their $1 menu is awesome! I got the cab to stop one night on the way back from WDW and for $6 I had enough for a snack and lunch the next day by the pool!

Not mentioned here is:

ALE HOUSE- Called Orlando Ale House, LBV Ale House and other variations! They are all the same, AWESOME food and very reasonable! I went to the one in LBV this year and got 1/2 rack of ribs and onion rings for $8.95, compare that a burger at WDW at the same price! They have specials every day and drink specials every day too! If you want to save money, order the CHICKEN NACHOS!!! OMG it is HUGE! Can feed 2 or 3 easily!

I love going to the US! So many new places to try and seldom leave disappointed nor hungry!