Local Recommendations/Non Chain

[OrlandoMike]

Sometimes it's nice to leave the "world" and visit local places.

Just wanted to start a thread to have a place where people could recommend local establishments that are non chain and good in their opinion.

Try to tell how far it is from Disney, if the owner is on site, stuff like this.

 

[OrlandoMike]

I'll give my first shot...

Kissimmee Steak House

http://www.kissimmeesteakhouse.com/

Half way between Kissimmee and St. Cloud on 192 (Left hand side if your coming from Disney, real near the Turnpike exit)

About 25-30 minutes from Disney, and the owner is usually in the Dining Room visiting tables.

Great Steaks and fish, salad is served Family Style, and you can always ask for more. Full Bar. Two rooms, the main dining room is part of the open kitchen, the back room is more of a banquet room, but it's cozy. I've never had a bad meal here, it's a little pricey, but you always get what you pay for.

Service can be a little slow, but when I'm paying for a nice steak I'm in no rush anyway. Give this one a try if your looking for a plain old fashioned steak house in the Disney area.

 

[fla4fun]

I don't know if it's a chain, because I've never heard of another one, but my vote would go to Ming Court, across from Pointe Orlando on I-Drive. They are a little more upscale than your usual Chinese restaurant and they have delicious food.

 

[hmp2z]

We're locals, and we have a few favorites.

For oysters, Lee & Rick's Oyster Bar on Old Winter Garden Rd is great. You get an entire bucket of oysters for $16, and they will steam them to your liking and shuck them right in front of you. It looks like, and is, a dive, but these are consistently the best oysters we've had. From the Magic Kingdom, this isn't too far off site.

For fast Mexican-style food, we like Tijuana Flats. (Click on link for our review). This is a small chain place, but it's good, consistent counter service quality food at affordable prices. It's also good for those looking to eat healthier, since they don't use lard. There is a location in Winter Garden, and also one on Kirkman (kind of near Sweet Tomatoes, if you're familiar with that).

For a fantastic, but more upscale, dining experience, we strongly suggest Roy's. Again, it's a local chain, but the quality blows away any of the signature restaurants at WDW, with the single exception of Victoria & Albert's. Their blackened tuna is unbelievable, and is extremely fresh. They fly it in every day, so that it was alive that same day that you eat it. It melts in your mouth like butter - I really can't say enough good things about it.

We just went to the Tiki Bar today, up in Clermont/Minneola. It's a very casual place - well, a tiki bar! The food quality is okay, not great, but the view is unbelievable. This isn't a chain; it's a local restaurant, owned by the owners of the charming Lake Minneola Inn.

If you're looking for a high quality dining experience, you can't do better than to go to West Sand Lake Road in the Dr. Phillips area. The Samba Room there has pretty good food, with smashing mojitos, and of course there is Roy's, Timpano Chop House, and Seasons 52 (at which we haven't yet eaten, but we've heard good things, though it is a chain).

You might also want to go to the Orlando boards; we talk a good deal about local, non-Disney restaurants there. I'd avoid the 192 restaurants like the plague - they're touristy, but, worse, the sanitation leaves much to be desired. Brrr....

Cheers!
Heather W