Looking Local for Good places to eat.

[Thumper1066]

For those of you who are local to Orlando, or like me like to escape the Mouse occasionally: Where do you eat out? I'm not interested in the standard chains, but where real people go out to have a meal, which won't put a huge dent in your weekly budget. Where is the best Mexican, the best pizza, that secret place you take your Mom when she is in town?

 

[staceyrhood]

15 year local here...we avoid chains when we go out to eat...our favorites are Columbia and cafe d'Antonios (both in Celebration). They are both outstanding! Antonio's, an Italian restaurant, has great wood oven fired pizza and calzones. Columbia is an outstanding restaurant (has been in Florida since 1905) with great service.

We LOVE Mexican and it is hard to come by around here...there is a chuys on 192 which is a chain and is ok. We actually drive to El Tenampa on 192 which is authentic Mexican and really great food, it is about a 15 minute drive down 192 east from us. (we are in Celebration.) There is a place called Roccos Tacos on Sand Lake road which is good, but a little too much $ for Mexican in my opinion.

The Town Tavern in Celebration is good too, they have a good Sunday brunch also.

Hope this helps, have a great trip!

 

[hoffman1]

We like Giordanos's pizza. There are a couple of locations near Disney. It is a chain but there isn't one near where we live. It is Chicago style pizza. They also have great salads.

 

[Barbydoll8]

Second the Columbia although, being from Tampa area, I'm a bit bias.
I have been wanting to try this place: http://www.hashhouseagogo.com/vegas/menu/
Heard it's good and menu looks fabulous.
Also heard this place is fun and good: http://www.cafetututango.com/menu.html

 

[Thumper1066]

Keep them coming my Disney Fan "friends". How about real German or Hungarian? What I would give for a real good Schnitzel? Or real southern BBQ? Not the real sweet kind they try to pull off in Ohio as authentic.

 

[Thumper1066]

15 year local here...we avoid chains when we go out to eat...our favorites are Columbia and cafe d'Antonios (both in Celebration). They are both outstanding! Antonio's, an Italian restaurant, has great wood oven fired pizza and calzones. Columbia is an outstanding restaurant (has been in Florida since 1905) with great service.

We LOVE Mexican and it is hard to come by around here...there is a chuys on 192 which is a chain and is ok. We actually drive to El Tenampa on 192 which is authentic Mexican and really great food, it is about a 15 minute drive down 192 east from us. (we are in Celebration.) There is a place called Roccos Tacos on Sand Lake road which is good, but a little too much $ for Mexican in my opinion.

The Town Tavern in Celebration is good too, they have a good Sunday brunch also.

Hope this helps, have a great trip!

I just checked out Columbia, it looks marvelous. Thank you for the suggestion. It may be a bit fancy, or NOT? The Cuban sandwich I would definitely try here. Thank you Thank you, I am trying to get a more "Florida" like experience this vacation this time in Orlando.

 

[staceyrhood]

I just checked out Columbia, it looks marvelous. Thank you for the suggestion. It may be a bit fancy, or NOT? The Cuban sandwich I would definitely try here. Thank you Thank you, I am trying to get a more "Florida" like experience this vacation this time in Orlando.

The cuban is amazing!!! It looks fancy, but its not really. We take our kids (3 and 8) there all the time. You will love it!

 

[staceyrhood]

Keep them coming my Disney Fan "friends". How about real German or Hungarian? What I would give for a real good Schnitzel? Or real southern BBQ? Not the real sweet kind they try to pull off in Ohio as authentic.

There is a new German place that opened recently, I have not been there yet... germans-orlando.com it is on 192. For BBQ, the best I have found around here is Four Rivers, there are a few of them within about 20 min. from Disney. (There are a lot of others, but not very good in my opinion.)

 

[Chelley00]

Also heard this place is fun and good: http://www.cafetututango.com/menu.html

We eat at Cafe Tu Tu Tango every trip. It's very eclectic, art everywhere and the tapas is yummy. And the sangria. I could drink a pitcher

 

[SureAsLiz]

I am going to third Columbia and second Cafe Tu Tu Tango. Both are very good. I am vegetarian and had many options at both.

My roommates loved (as in ordered from there several times a month) Chuys - especially their chips and dip. I don't think there was ever a moment that there wasn't a bag of their chips in our kitchen.

Thai Thani (in Celebration and on International Drive) is also very good. Family owned restaurants and will customize anything on their menu as far as I have tried.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

I am going to third Columbia and second Cafe Tu Tu Tango. Both are very good. I am vegetarian and had many options at both.

My roommates loved (as in ordered from there several times a month) Chuys - especially their chips and dip. I don't think there was ever a moment that there wasn't a bag of their chips in our kitchen.

Thai Thani (in Celebration and on International Drive) is also very good. Family owned restaurants and will customize anything on their menu as far as I have tried.

Question - is the Columbia House the same as the one in Tampa & St. Augustine with the 1905 salad, etc? If so we might just have to check that out next trip to WDW.

 

[SureAsLiz]

Question - is the Columbia House the same as the one in Tampa & St. Augustine with the 1905 salad, etc? If so we might just have to check that out next trip to WDW.

Yep! Same restaurant

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Yep! Same restaurant

Thank you!!

 

[Thumper1066]

Seafood anyone. The places I have been to here in Orlando are just not that great. You would think, this would be the easiest type of food to find. The idea that it has to be expensive to be good seems to be the rule. Where do you go for the best seafood in town? I would be willing to drive a bit if somebody has a fav somewhere within 50-60 miles if it is special.