Must do off property restaurants?

[DVC~OKW~96]

You want real food? Off the beaten path? A little different? Not chain?

Get out your google map and find your way to Yellow Dog Eats in Gotha, FL (about 20 minutes or so north of WDW area). Be ready to be amazed.

Or, if you want seafood, head to Fish and Chips on 436 in Apopka (just on the Apopka/Altamonte Springs line). Taking I 4 to 436 probably 30 minutes or so from WDW area. EXCELLENT seafood, prepared to order and prepared perfectly. I am beyond fussy about seafood and this tiny little place (that looks like NO WAY! from the road) does it RIGHT.

Ceviche on Church St. in Orlando is very nice. It's a local "chain" so to speak, in the same manner that the Columbia restaurant in Celebration is.

Hamburger Mary's is fun if you have an open mind and truly love burgers. It's downtown Orlando.

Pancho's over on Semoran (east of I 4) has the BEST Cubans in the area, as well as fabulous Cuban pastries and other yummy dishes.

If you like Vietnamese food take I4 east to 50/Colonial east. (You'll exit at the Amelia St. exit and follow that to 50). Take a right and that starts the strip of Vietnamese restaurants. All have good food.

Hope that helps a bit.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Also in Celebration is Columbia Restaurant. I haven't tried that one, but ours in Tampa is very good. We ate there last on Christmas Day & had an outstanding meal.

I agree with Bonefish Grill, if you don't have one where you live. We think the food is on par with Flying Fish & much cheaper. Again, I haven't eaten at one in Orlando only here, but I'm sure they're similar.

 

[wildelady]

Just got back and can highly recommend Cici's on the 192, pizza, pasta, dessert buffet for about$6, we had vouchers that gave us bogof offer.
Applebees was good at Berry Town Center on the 27, dinner for 5 adults with drinks including pitcher of beer and 2 starters came to about $75.
But finally Fuddruckers was amazing, we went to the one at Crossroads, at the moment they are doing a special meal deal for 2 adults and 2 kids for $25 or a meal deal for $12 a person.

 

[polymerpig]

Sweet Tomatoes (at Crossroads) and Steak n' Shake

 

[neffernie]

We like the Chevy's at Crossroads. The fish tacos taste just like the ones I had in Mexico. So yummy.

 

[threvester]

For fast food, we really like Checkers..great spicy curly fries and the Big Buford and Baconzilla burgers are great

 

[tripletmommiesrock]

We always eat at Cafe Tu Tu Tango it's a cool little tapas resturant with great food, intresting art, and in house entertainment. Depending on when you go they have artists working in the resturant painting, scupting, bellydancers, etc. It's a fun place we always take people there. The food is amazing with everything from exotic to less adventurous. We order several tapas and share.

Also we enjoy going and walking around Citywalk at Universal. We always eat at Jimmy Buffets. The food is good and the resturant is kitchy! Super fun.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

You want real food? Off the beaten path? A little different? Not chain?

Get out your google map and find your way to Yellow Dog Eats in Gotha, FL (about 20 minutes or so north of WDW area). Be ready to be amazed.

Or, if you want seafood, head to Fish and Chips on 436 in Apopka (just on the Apopka/Altamonte Springs line). Taking I 4 to 436 probably 30 minutes or so from WDW area. EXCELLENT seafood, prepared to order and prepared perfectly. I am beyond fussy about seafood and this tiny little place (that looks like NO WAY! from the road) does it RIGHT.

Ceviche on Church St. in Orlando is very nice. It's a local "chain" so to speak, in the same manner that the Columbia restaurant in Celebration is.

Hamburger Mary's is fun if you have an open mind and truly love burgers. It's downtown Orlando.

Pancho's over on Semoran (east of I 4) has the BEST Cubans in the area, as well as fabulous Cuban pastries and other yummy dishes.

If you like Vietnamese food take I4 east to 50/Colonial east. (You'll exit at the Amelia St. exit and follow that to 50). Take a right and that starts the strip of Vietnamese restaurants. All have good food.

Hope that helps a bit.

Now that is the kind of post I was waiting for! Thanks DVC OKW 96!

 

[Tiggerlover91]

My family eats kosher, and even though Disney offers kosher items we ate offsite at a deli called Cohen's. FANTASTIC! A bit on the expensive side being kosher meat is just that...but SO worth it!

 

[mlnbabies]

Miller's Ale House on 192. We loved it!

 

[kaligal]

Margaritaville.

 

[Mom2aJessieGirl]

Also in Celebration is Columbia Restaurant. I haven't tried that one, but ours in Tampa is very good. We ate there last on Christmas Day & had an outstanding meal.

Oh wow. I ate at the one on St. Armand's Circle several years ago...so delicious. One of the few meals that I think of fondly many years after the experience. I had no idea that they had one in Celebration! Trying to figure out how to make it there next weekend....

 

[Pixie Princess]

We like the Chevy's at Crossroads. The fish tacos taste just like the ones I had in Mexico. So yummy.

I second Chevy's. Yummy! I am convinced that this place is some how related to the now defunct Rio Bravo. Very similar in themeing and menu. I was so happy when I learned about Chevy's because I miss Rio Bravo.

A friend of mine has a timeshare in Orlando, and every year the must do place for them is Texas de Brazil. She and her girls love the place.

 

[OB1]

We have 3 places that are on our "Must Do" list. None of these are in our area even though all are chains

Chevy's
Earl of Sandwich at DTD
Tijuana Flats - and this possibly twice

 

[Macca1111]

You want real food? Off the beaten path? A little different? Not chain?

Get out your google map and find your way to Yellow Dog Eats in Gotha, FL (about 20 minutes or so north of WDW area). Be ready to be amazed.

I had to second that. It's freaking amazing! A little far away from WDW, but right by my sister's house, so I went quite a bit...and I really miss their PB&J!

Close by at the Crossroads is a wide variety of things, but I agree that to find not a chain restaurant you have to search a little more. Good luck finding good eats!

 

[TravelGrl]

I have never been to Texas de Brazil in Orlando, but they just opened one near me, and it's so wonderful. We actually ate there last night. If you do go, bring an appetite.

 

[anne60]

Sweet Tomatoes. I so wish they would open some in the Northeast. We would drive 2 hours if they did!

 

[polymerpig]

Sweet Tomatoes. I so wish they would open some in the Northeast. We would drive 2 hours if they did!

I totally agree...so many great restaurants creep up from the south, move closer from the west, and then STOP at the NY state line...

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

We love the Outback and Bahama Breeze is lovely too. So many good places to eat!

If am being honest though my fave place to eat is in the Florida Mall in the Food Court there is a place that sells Bourbon Chicken. We don't get that here and it is so tasty! I always make sure we visit that place!!!!!

Sounds like Cajun Kelly's to me??? Is that right?

 

[mrzrich]

Sweet Tomatoes. I so wish they would open some in the Northeast. We would drive 2 hours if they did!

If you plan to visit Sweet Tomatoes, or think there is a slight chance you might, be sure to go to their website and join the veg club. They will email you coupons every Thursday. With a coupon, our family of 4 eats for $19.99.