Great meals without an ADR (we have a car)

[mollybeasley]

What are your favorite restaurants (fine dining or casual) that do NOT require ADRs? We have a car, and we don't need to stay on property. We can go anywhere in the Orlando area, preferably in the vicinity of WDW, Universal or Seaworld.

Thanks in advance

PS. Are there any great Thai restaurants? My guys also like Indian and seafood. I like French and lots of veggies. We all like really great pizza, sandwiches and salads too. Anything really. We'd be happy to try something completely new.

 

[TDC Nala]

Moving to Orlando Attractions, where you will get more information about off-property restaurants than you would probably get on the Disney restaurant board.

 

[Havana]

Beaches and Cream at BC for burgers and ice cream

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

There are NUMEROUS good restruants in the Sand Lake Road area. Seasons 52 comes to mind quickly.

What's your budget? That always helps

 

[CookieMueller]

www.giordanos.com

 

[encinc]

We went to Sweet Tomatoes in the Crossroads Plaza for an awesome soup and salad bar. We spent less than $25 for our family of four, and we walked away satiated and full of nutritious food.

 

[Kae]

Cafe Tu Tu Tango. Is a great place & fun. Emerils Tchoup Chop.

Kae

 

[honeydiane1953]

What are your favorite restaurants (fine dining or casual) that do NOT require ADRs? We have a car, and we don't need to stay on property. We can go anywhere in the Orlando area, preferably in the vicinity of WDW, Universal or Seaworld.

Thanks in advance

PS. Are there any great Thai restaurants? My guys also like Indian and seafood. I like French and lots of veggies. We all like really great pizza, sandwiches and salads too. Anything really. We'd be happy to try something completely new.

Being able to eat "outside" of Disney sounds like my kind of good eating.

 

[BGK]

Want to be a little adventurous, and wander away from the tired chains and carbon copies of what you can probably get at home?

Cedars for Lebanese/Middle Eastern food. It's in "Restaurant Row" on Sand Lake Rd. about half a mile west of I-4.

Sushi Tomi for real, Japanese sushi (not wacky rolls slathered in mayonnaise and deep fried) on John Young Pkwy. about one mile north of the Beeline. This is a complete hidden gem. Most evenings, two-thirds of the crowd is Japanese expatriates working in Orlando for Mitsubishi, just down the road. Outstanding fish and on the cheap side.

I've not tried Thai in Orlando, as I have two good choices at home, but I've heard many good things about Thai Blossom waaaaaay out in Winter Garden. I saw through the windows as I was waiting to eat at Chef's Table, another restaurant in the same building (and also worth a trip, though it does require reservations), people eating good-looking food in a stylish room. Winter Garden is a good half hour drive up the Western Beltway, but it goes by quickly enough.

If you like raw oysters, and don't mind hanging out with a real working-man's crowd, there's Lee and Rick's Half Shell, at Kirkman and Old Winter Garden Rds., about five miles north of Universal. Get the "bucket" - about four dozen oysters, shucked right in front of you as you eat, maybe some steamed shrimp, and a pitcher of draft beer. Definitely a page from a now-largely bygone Florida.

If you want to explore greater Orlando, I've found Scott Joseph's site to be a very good resource.

 

[Danibelle]

Pei Wei for casual Asian food (I think it's on Sand Lake). Also B-Line Diner in the Peabody Hotel (I-Drive close to the Convention Center). They are open 24 hrs/day. This restaurant is best for older kids/teens and adults.

 

[mbb]

Jason's Deli
www.jasonsdeli.com

Bit of a hike from WDW, not so bad from US/IOA...but, so yum!

 

[Kellydelly]

My family tried out Miller's Alehouse of Orlando last week and were impressed. It is on 192 west of Disney a couple miles. The parking lot was full for a good reason !

http://www.millersalehouse.com/

 

[mollybeasley]

Thanks everyone for the recommendations!

 

[geenerbell]

We went to Sweet Tomatoes in the Crossroads Plaza for an awesome soup and salad bar. We spent less than $25 for our family of four, and we walked away satiated and full of nutritious food.

I agree with this! Awesome food and great prices. Very busy when we went so I take that as a good sign.

 

[calliemom]

Casual for sure, but their ready made food area is incredible ............
Whole Foods Market
8003 Turkey Lake Road

 

[7165red]

check out www.orlandovillas.com and click on to forums at the top of the page, you will find a dining forum and they talk about almost all restaurants outside of WDW.

 

[SYDCOLEMOM]

Our very favorite meal (including our ADRS) was Wolf Gang Pucks Express in DTD. We ate their twice (it was actually a counter service option on the dinning plan). Pizza and salads were fresh and delicious. very affordable and servings were huge ! we shared ! cant wait to go back in MAY

 

[Orlando Vic]

What are your favorite restaurants (fine dining or casual) that do NOT require ADRs? We have a car, and we don't need to stay on property. We can go anywhere in the Orlando area, preferably in the vicinity of WDW, Universal or Seaworld.

PS. Are there any great Thai restaurants?

Red Bamboo gets very good reviews.

6803 Kirkman Rd.
Orlando
407-226-3272