Non Disney Restaurants

[tracymclark]

Hi guys! I am looking for decent places to dine (Breakfast and Supper) that are not on Disney Property. We will be staying right outside the park. This is my first time to the area, so I have no idea what they have. Ideally breakfast buffet's would be nice, maybe a couple of places that serve buffet suppers. Also any good seafood or steakhouses in the area?

Thanks in advance

 

[dougsmom98]

Hello fellow Mainer!
Because Disney is so large, the area right outside of Disney is large too. We might be able to give better suggestions if we had a better idea of where outside of Disney you are staying we could give some specific suggestions. There are more restaurants than you can imagine in the area.

By the way, based on out tickers, it looks like we will be there at the same time! We've been there at this time the past 4 years so let me know if you have any questions.

 

[Purseval]

Golden Corral has the best buffet breakfast but they don't open early enough for you to eat and be in the parks for opening. Keep them in mind for supper, tho. Western Sizzler is a chain that opens early and has buffet breakfast, it's adequate at best. There are several Cici's Pizza places in Orlando, I don't care much for them but kids love it.

You will see a few seafoord buffets advertised on huge billboards. Stay away from a buffet that lies to you right off the bat, it has a huge billboard that says All You Can Eat Lobster Buffet, Lunch $14.99 then in small print underneath it says excludes lobster. We have yet to see a seafood buffet in Orlando that wasn't total garbage. The seafood restaurant in Downtown Disney is very nice but it isn't a buffet and it's $$$$$ but at least it's edible.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Fuddruckers at the Crossing Shopping Plaza. There is also a good Mexican place there too just don't remember the name.

There is a Cracker Barrel off of Orange Blossom Rd.

 

[earthfaries]

A new and wonderful Sweet Tomatoes just opened in the shopping center across from the Downtown Disney area ~ it's really yummy for lunch and dinner, and on Sundays I believe they have breakfast

 

[tracymclark]

Thanks guys!

 

[Procrastinate]

Our favorite is Friendly's. They had a drink, entree, ice cream sundae combo for $10 when we were there. It's along the lines of a Denny's or Perkins, but with better food, combined with an ice cream parlor.

 

[tripletots]

A new and wonderful Sweet Tomatoes just opened in the shopping center across from the Downtown Disney area ~ it's really yummy for lunch and dinner, and on Sundays I believe they have breakfast

I just registered with Sweet Tomatoes to receive my 15% discount. Only problem is that it says it expires 2 weeks from date sent. We aren't going to be in Orlando until Aug. 16-26. I will register under my dh's name closer to our trip. The coupon is sent the day after you register.

 

[TinkInPink]

Personally I LOVE the Waffle House. We have to go there every trip. It's nothing too fancy, but the food is good and quick and the people are friendly. We usually go to the one that's down the road from the Disney gate by DTD.

 

[Rhonda]

We just had the breakfast buffet at the Sizzler on International Drive (around the 9000 block). It was only $4.99 and it was very good! It was kept very clean, and the food was constantly being refreshed!

 

[myjourney]

Longhorn for Steak (I love their prime rib)
Chevys Mexican (it is at the crossing)

 

[tracymclark]

Longhorn for Steak (I love their prime rib)
Chevys Mexican (it is at the crossing)

Mmmm, I haven't had good Mexican food since I moved to Maine. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Christine]

If you want something a little less "chainey" for dinner, try some of the restaurants in Celebration. They are located in a very cute little town center type setting and the two restaurants we tried, we were very impressed with.

The first one was Cafe D'Antonia which was, of course, Italian. They have a wood-fired oven on the premises and I understand the pizzas a very good. The other dishes (Chicken Piccata, Eggplant, etc.) were VERY, VERY good. It's like a miniature version of Carraba's but the food was actually much better.

The second restaurant we went to was the New Market Cafe which was diner style. The ambiance was pretty nice for a "diner" and the menu selection was extremely varied. Something for everyone. My parents got soup and salad, one of our party wasn't hungry and just got soup, my son got Beef Stroganoff (very good but heavy for July!), I got Open Faced Turkey Sandwich with Mashed Potatoes, and my DD got Fish and Chips (very good fish). They supposedly have a tuna salad that is one of the best (didn't get to try it on this trip). They have so much more. The best is that they have homemade pies and the Banana Cream was very good. I wish I hadn't run out of nights in Orlando as I would have gone back to try more.

The diner was very affordable. The Italian restaurant a bit pricier. There were two or three other restaurants there also that get good reviews. I think you should try it if you want something unique and not what you can get at any other town in the U.S. I guess I'm just weird that way, I hate to go away and eat at the same restaurants that are 5 miles from my home.

 

[dhdozier]

Fuddruckers at the Crossing Shopping Plaza. There is also a good Mexican place there too just don't remember the name.

.

Just ate at Fuddruckers last week - so good!!! To get to Crossroads Shopping Plaza just drive straight past Downtown Disney and when you get to the stoplight that is past ALL of the DTD hotels, you will see Crossroads right in front of you. Several well-known chain restaurants ranging in diff. price categories. The Mexican place is called Chevy's and I know in those tourist coupon books there is usually a coupon for them.
There is also a McDonald's infront of Crossroads so if buffets don't work out you can get a Egg mcMuffin to go Another suggestion if you have a hurried morning or would like to save abit for breakfast would be to hit a grocery store down there. There is a Publix right down from Disney that has pretty decent prices.
Finally, for a GREAT steak - I recc. OUtback that is on W. Irlo Bronson (I'm pretty sure that's the road). There is an Olive Garden out there near it and a few other chains you have prob heard of. Hope this helps!

 

[earthfaries]

The most incredible food we've had since moving here is a little deli called 3 Nenas ~~ it is a family owned cuban style deli ~ he makes everything fresh from all natural ingredients and it's so delicious and afordable !!!!!

Take it from a local it's worth the drive for the best empanadas and sweet plantains, fresh bread and cuban sandwiches. They also have incredible breakfast

They are located in the Berry Town Center ~ you'd have to take 192 W to US 27 then take a left onto US 27. After that it's about 2 miles down the road on the right next to Publix.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Check out Sandlake Road (off I DRIVE) lots of great restaurants there and not the typical tourist type.

 

[webprinter]

We like Sweet Tomatoes, Unos, Fuddruckers and Sonny's BBQ.

 

[erinch]

OT: I always wonder how Fuddruckers manages to keep their name.

Back on topic: since we don't have one around here, our tradition is to go get hot Krispy Kreme donuts the night before, and then have them for breakfast the next morning. Hey, it's vacation!

We also would not miss the breakfast buffet at Boma one of the mornings of our trip. (doesn't save $$).

 

[mrsstats]

Logans Roadhouse for steak dinner

 

[PHILCT]

Of all the times I have listened to the Disboards Podcast, with everyone talking about Disney Restaurants and Offsite Restaurants, I remember the one time that everyone spoke about this incredible gem, that was fairly priced, and incredibly tasty, and it made me crazy to try it someday. The Podcast crew made it sound like a definite visit for the locals and their out of state tourist friends and relatives.

P F Changs, a unique Chinese restaurant chain, and it is about 11 miles from Disney, and most of it driven by on I-4.