Good NON-Disney restaurants?

[FDV]

All this talk of the DDP is making me very hungry. We will not be doing the DDP this year, and we WILL have a car. Can anyone make some recommendations for good off-site restaurants near Disney? I'm sure all of the usual suspects are there, like Applebee's and TGIF, but we want to do something different. We especially like Japanese food, so if there is a great non-Disney Japanese restaurant near by, we would like to know about it.

 

[Colleen27]

When I was thinking about staying offsite, several people recommended a Japanese restaurant called Rangetsu.

There is also a Melting Pot in Orlando, which is a chain but if you don't have one near you would be a fun dinner to do. We love to find them when we travel, because the one in our area is just too far away to be practical.

 

[TisBit]

One year we ate at the Tony Roma's out on 536, it was awesome, and I haven't found another Tony Roma's that was that good. I am not sure if that location is still that good or not, but man I loved the Ribs. I am not a rib fan, I want them very tender and falling off the bones, and they were!

I am sure you can't tell that I really liked it!

There is also a mexican restaurant out on 536, not sure which one, might be On the Border or something, but it was good too!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

There is a Benihana of Tokyo in the Hilton in DTD.

Also, the Marriott World Center Solaris Restaurant has a wonderful buffet (about 70 feet long) for breakfast every day. Currently the adult price is $18.95 including both juice and coffee. Eggs to order, smoked salmon, Parma Ham, usually at least a dozen kinds of fruit, etc. It is seven days a week, on Sundays it is until 1:00pm. (I try to go there about once a month).

 

[Sophie's Mom]

Seasons 52 on Sand Lake Road. Very very good. Nice wine list if you're into wine. Every entree is no more than 475 calories, so the food is prepared in a fairly healthy manner!

 

[deej696]

I also second Season's 52. Also, the original Charley's Steakhouse on 17-92 next to the Florida Mall fantastic. There are 3 Charley's in Orlando, but dont mess around with the other 2, as I believe they are franchises and they do their steaks different, and just aren't as good as the original. If you happen to find yourself in downtown Orlando, the Boheme in the Grand Bohemian Hotel is amazing as well....

 

[Kae]

Cafe Tu Tu Tango is great. & easy to find it is by the Visters Center on International.

Kae

 

[jhk1206]

Someone mentioned the Benihana near DTD - It's a typical Benihana, but it's definitely cheaper than the Teppan Edo in EPCOT. Yummy if you like the Teppanyaki Japanese stuff!

We love Seasons 52 also - always yummy! It's a ways out, but we also LOVE the Colorado Fondue Company, which is in Casselberry - like Melting Pot, but a little more 'homey'. Plus you can cook on a really hot rock - pretty neat!

But don't give up on the on site restuarants. You can get some good deals there. If you like the 'down home' comfort food 'stuff', try the Trails End at Fort Wilderness - I personally think it's a pretty good deal for what you get. Not the most healthy stuff in the world, but still tasty. We also definitely like Ohana - not a bad deal for the price (again, if you stuff yourself!). Grand Floridian Cafe and Kona Cafe are pretty good as well. We never do the DDP (we're AP holders but not DVC, so unless it's free it's not worth it for us), but we almost always stay onsite to eat.

Mmmm, food - making me hungry!