Inexpensive family-oriented restaurant

[pwdebbie]

Can anyone suggest to me an inexpensive family-oriented (ie no alcohol served) restaurant close to WDW? I'm helping a friend who has just found out she needs to plan and pay for one dinner for their family group of 17 during Christmas week. I am only familiar with the restaurants on property, and basically Tony's Town Square is the only one that fits the bill and it really is still too expensive for them, so I thought maybe you all could help me out with some off-property restaurants. Thanks!

 

[kathy884]

Is a chain resturnant OK? Almost every chain out there is in the Orlando / WDW area. A favorite chain that is a favorite of my family and extended family and pretty reasonable is Sweet Tomatoes. That would be what I'd pick for a group like this on a budget. They have a salad bar with all kinds of great salads, a soup station, pasta station (pasta dishes --usually two plus pizza, fruit and a dessert bar). There are a few in the Orlando area. Here's a web link to one that says Lake Buena.
http://www.souplantation.com/locations/restaurant.aspx?store_id=116&store_name=Lake_Buena_Vista

We go to these pretty often as there are two locally pretty close to us in St. Louis. For relatives, though, that don't have these in their home town, this is a place they really look forward to going to.

In our local Sunday newspaper too they regularly have coupons for maybe two dollars off or something like that for up to six people. I don't know about coupon availability in the Orlando area, but if you would like to take 17 people there it might be worthwhile to ask about coupons on this forum (See if other posters are aware of these.)

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Also have her check on restaurant.com I think it's called to purchase gift cert for her restaurant of choice...they give you a discount off of the gift cert so she could have a portion of the cost prepaid with a bit off the price!

 

[swilshire]

We like Sweet Tomatoes, but I'm not sure I would recommend it for a large group. If you don't like pasta, there's not much to choose from except soup and salad. Not all of our family members like it.

For chains, I'd go with something with more variety like Cracker Barrel or Golden Corral.

Sheila

 

[Brian Noble]

If there is a chain restaurant with two or more locations in the US, one of them will be located within 10 minutes of WDW property. If she has a favorite chain restaurant, then it will be easy to find one in Orlando.

If "no alcohol served" is a strict requirement, it may be harder.

 

[jeff968]

Another vote for Sweet Tomatos. They just opened the new one off of 535 which is right next to teh enterance to DTD. We ate there in February.

 

[shoppgirl]

I also vote for Sweet Tomotoes. I signed up online for ecoupons and get them sent every month. My family of 4 ate for $19.99 (essentially the kids ate for free) and it was very filling. The salad bar was amazing, great selection of soups including chilli, pizza, pastas, baked potatoes, etc. The dessert bar was fine too...my girls loved the sundae bar. Adults are $10 and kids are $5 normally. You have to pay for drinks on top of the buffet price, but you can always just get water. The restaurant is quite big, and can definitely seat 17 people easily! Everyone eats at their own pace, and can pick and choose whatever they want.

 

[pwdebbie]

Another vote for Sweet Tomatos. They just opened the new one off of 535 which is right next to teh enterance to DTD. We ate there in February.

I've always takn the boat to DTD so I am not familiar with the road entrance. If they took a bus, can they then walk over to this restaurant?

 

[powellrj]

It would be a pretty far walk and not very safe for a large group to cross the road. I really don't think Sweet Tomatoes would be a very good choice for a large group. Its pretty much a fast food type place with soup and salad bar, so its really not a place to sit and visit with people if that is the type of place she wants. There is a Fuddruckers in the same plaza that is pretty cheap and would be a little easier to eat with a large group if they want to be able to visit with each other.

In the next plaza over there is a Giordano pizza that you can get some pretty good restaurant.com coupons for that would really bring the price down. It would also be easier to visit with a large group because they could all sit together.

 

[bdoyledimou]

What about Cracker Barrel? They dont serve alcohol (something specifically mentioned in the OP) and they have excellent food, lots of choice, and its reasonably priced. (it CAN be less than $10 a person....

 

[Janet Hill]

It would be a pretty far walk and not very safe for a large group to cross the road. I really don't think Sweet Tomatoes would be a very good choice for a large group. Its pretty much a fast food type place with soup and salad bar, so its really not a place to sit and visit with people if that is the type of place she wants. There is a Fuddruckers in the same plaza that is pretty cheap and would be a little easier to eat with a large group if they want to be able to visit with each other.

In the next plaza over there is a Giordano pizza that you can get some pretty good restaurant.com coupons for that would really bring the price down. It would also be easier to visit with a large group because they could all sit together.

Giordano's is a great suggestion. Very family friendly (IMO), but they do serve alcohol. Restaurant.com has $100 coupons for $40, and there is an 80% off code (I forget what it is though). So the first $100 can be covered for $8.00.

I agree that Sweet Tomatoes is not a good choice (IMO) for a large crowd.

 

[disneysteve]

Another vote for Sweet Tomatoes. Lively fun atmosphere so good for families with kids. Lots of food choices including some basics for picky eaters. Fixed price which keeps costs down. And some big open seating areas where you can push a bunch of tables together for a larger party. And they won't rush you out of there if you want to linger and chat over dessert (which is yummy - we make brownie sundaes). This is our favorite restaurant in the Disney area. We usually eat there twice during our visit (as we did last month).