Non-Disney restaurants?

[leebee]

Not sure if this is the place to ask this, as restaurants aren't accommodations and not really attractions, but I am hoping someone can help (or moderators will move this if there's a better place!).

I have friends who are taking their 3 teen daughters to Disney over April vacation. They are staying at Hilton's Parc Soleil. They are looking for restaurant recommendations that are NOT on Disney property. They already have Columbia in Celebration on their list, and aren't really interested in the typical chain restaurants (Olive Garden, TGI Friday's etc.). Does anyone have any suggestions for great places to eat in the area? TIA

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

They might want to check out the Dr. Phillips/Sand Lake area. Rocco's Tacos, Seasons 52, etc. Both chains, but on the smaller scale.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Giordano's? My teenager LOVED it there.

 

[i*heart*minniemouse]

Orlando Ale House...family oriented....lots of sports on the TVs. Priced VERY reasonable.

 

[Detailor]

Bahama Breeze - three or four locations in the area but the closest to Parc Soleil is at the corner of Vineland Ave. and SR 535. This is a chain but an atypical one (and if you're friends are from Orono, as you are, the nearest Bahama Breeze is a fairly long way away, down in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts - I think their only New England location). Introduced in their pre-teen/teen years, this remains a favorite of my daughters' into their 20s and 30s.

Celebration Town Tavern, just down the street from Columbia, is fun as well.

We like the Big River Grille, too. It's a non Disney-owned restaurant at the BoardWalk complex that has a couple of other locations in Tennessee, I believe.

These restaurants would be classified as casual dining.

Dick Taylor

 

[Ametista]

When we stayed in LBV we ate at TRex and Earl of Sandwich a lot, even though that is DTD its not in a theme park or anything. And EOS is very affordable. My DD liked the Cici's but I wasn't thrilled with it.

 

[winterwhite]

We like Miller's Ale House on I-Drive. It's a chain, but not one we have, and they have cheap pitchers of good sangria and everything from pizza to steak to seafood.

 

[akaler2010]

We like Bahama Breeze as well. We also really enjoy all of the Universal restaurants. They have a wide variety and some delicious options (both Emeril's locations are great!)

 

[Art 1]

Not sure if this is the place to ask this, as restaurants aren't accommodations and not really attractions, but I am hoping someone can help (or moderators will move this if there's a better place!).

I have friends who are taking their 3 teen daughters to Disney over April vacation. They are staying at Hilton's Parc Soleil. They are looking for restaurant recommendations that are NOT on Disney property. They already have Columbia in Celebration on their list, and aren't really interested in the typical chain restaurants (Olive Garden, TGI Friday's etc.). Does anyone have any suggestions for great places to eat in the area? TIA

Yes, they would be very happy with Luma on Park in Winter Park.

 

[gorjus121]

Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Orlando. It's a chain but you would never know that. Amazing seafood entrees and service was outstanding!!!

 

[EnchantedSurprise]

Orlando Ale House...family oriented....lots of sports on the TVs. Priced VERY reasonable.

You had me at VERY reasonable Adding it to the list for our upcoming budget trip.

 

[mjplantz]

+1 on the Ale House, this is a new must do for us, we went the day after thanksgiving with a group of ten and had a great time and it was definitely budget friendly.

 

[conniehar90]

We really like Bruno's. It is an Italian restaurant and we always order in with some friends when we go. The husbands always go pick up the food so I don't know exactly where it is. We stay at Windsor Hills so I know it is not too far from there.

 

[DOOM1001]

Hash House A Go Go,new in the area, kinda like an upscale Cracker Barrel.On the north end of International Drive near the I-Drive location of the Premium Outlets

Chuy's,Mexican restaurant on International Drive

Yellow Dog Eats,away from the tourist area but very unique

Antojitos,another Mexican restaurant that just opened up at Universal Citywalk

4 Rivers Smokehouse,BBQ in Winter Park

Melting Pot and Colorado Fondue company,fondue

Dick's Last Resort,the servers are trained to be annoying,interesting place.Located by the Vineland Premium Outlets location

Sweet Tomatoes,salad ,soup and bakery style buffet one close to DTD and one close to Universal

Taverna Opa,Greek,located in Pointe Orlando by the convention center

Bubbalou's Bodacious Bar-B-Que,BBQ just north of Universal

Whichwich,sub place on Sand lake rd's restaurant row

100 Montaditos,100 varieties of tiny Spanish style sandwiches,but it's located away from the tourist area

BB Kings blues club,BBQ,located in Pointe orlando

 

[akadada]

This is the right place to post this question. If you run a search here, you'll find a running post of ideas as well.

Many great ideas here already. I agree with most of them and as an aside, find most offsite dining to be better than everything but the best onsite dining, so you should be pleasantly surprised. We actually dine offsite more than onsite.

My additions:

Moon Fish (doc Philips)
Seito (Celebration, sushi)
A second for Seasons 52, because it's that good.
Fama's Pizza...They use some of the best ingredients and it's family owned. A very unexpectedly enjoyable experience. Best pizza in the area from our perspective.. (Chicago as a benchmark). Giordanos is also good.
If money is no object, Bull and Bear.
Finally, technically on site, but not part of Disney Dining: Il Mulino, Blue Zoo, and Shulas are all fantastic and make most of Disney Deluxe Dining look amateur. Those three restaurants are why we never do a disney dining package; because I'd hate to miss them.

 

[powellrj]

WDW is full of chain restaurants. I know many people want to avoid chains, but we like to go to ones we don't have in our area.

Love the build your burgers at Fuddruckers, I loved The Knife (not sure if its still there), lots of different pizza options, my kids liked BB Kings, cute tacky dinner shows that are cheap. You can eat outside of WDW for so much cheaper than you pay inside the parks and I think the food is better!

 

[Tagstime]

I Drive area, Texas De Brazil.. Place is amazing and one of our stops we always look forward to when in Florida. Be sure to sign up for there e mail club if you plan a visit for there 50% off coupon..

 

[Avalon_toon]

You might find some good suggestions here too http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=498998&page=43

 

[wendybeth75]

Bubba Gumps at US City walk, and even though it is a small chain place we loved Smokey Bones (can't remember exact location).