Orlando Lunch Restaurant Recommendations

[mookiebears34]

Hi! I am looking for LUNCH restaurant recommendations in Orlando. Specifically on international drive, near the Orange County Convention Center.

I'm looking for some place fun, but sophisticated

What are my best options?

 

[zaxmom]

Bahama Breeze on I-Drive would be my pick. Maybe Race Rock Cafe, kind of like Nascar Cafe. There is a nicer looking Olive Garden near there. Bahama Breeze would be considered fun because of the atmosphere and drinks. They have an excellent, upscale casual menu.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

close to but not on I drive is restaurant row on Sandlake road. It is much better and much more sophisticated than anything on I drive. It is not however stuffy. There are two really nice malls and about 15 new and really nice restaurnats. I love it we just discovered it this year and I have posted many times. Two good choices are the Samba Room and Season;s 52. There is also a Mortons, as well as a Ruth Cris.

 

[Kae]

Cafe TU TU Tango!!Check out there site www.cafetututtango.com. It is down by the Double Tree Castle hotel & Vistors Center

Kae

 

[punkin]

I second Bahama breeze. I found their appetizers to be a LOT better than their entrees and the entees were not bad...the appetizers were just that good.

 

[FLeisure]

Zaxmom,
What on earth are you doing ? We don't need tourists to know about the restaurants you mentioned

Seriously, I went to Seasons 52 on Saturday and what a fabulous meal we had. We were served by a really eccentric guy but once we established he wasn't being rude we had a really great time !

The food was truly wonderful and the wine even better. I've been to Morton's, Ruth's Chris, Chatham's, Christini's amongst others on Sand Lake Rd., and this was truly better than them. A great restaurant in the making and we are so lucky to have such a great choice of places to eat at.

For me, this was always the one thing we were missing in Orlando but we really can't complain nowadays. Can't wait to go back in a couple of weeks time

 

[Aubrey]

We are making lunch plans for a group of a dozen people sort of near the airport, are any of these great suggestions in that area?

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

FLeisure I totally agree and my husband uttered your exact sentiments regarding the one thing missing was good restaurnats. I must say that Samba room was very good too. They are so willing to try and get new customers that if you show them the Orlando Magic Card they will give you 5.00 off per entree!!!!! In my opinion these restaurants are all better than Bahama Breeze both in atmosphere and service. Season's 52 is part of the Darden Group that owns Bahama Breeze but it is just a little nicer. I am not saying that BB is not nice these are just nicer.

 

[FLeisure]

If you want lunch near the airport, I'd suggest going into the Hilton on the airport. Otherwise you'll need to drive a bit to find a decent place to eat and I'd head out to Sand Lake.

Bella....where else have you tried? More and more restaurants are opening up but we usually leave it 3 mths until the Hotel Inspector tells us everything is up and running properly before we go into a new one. It's one of the perks of this trade having the person who inspects the houses also inspecting the restaurants

We've done Moonfish on two occassions...one good and one not so hot ! Apart from that we've done all the regulars that have been around for years such as Ruth's Chris, Christini's (exceptional service), Chathams, Morton's etc.

And talking of restaurants..if you're on Disney property, JIKO's in the Animal Kingdom lodge is fabulous. We also like PALIO's in the Swan Hotel. Three years ago we didn't enjoy it that much but we tried it again 4 months ago and it has really improved.

Places on our "to do" hit list include :
Emeril's Tchoup Chop at Universal (strangely we've never made much effort to get in here), Del Frisco's on Lee Rd., and Fishbones & The Melting Pot on Sand Lake.

Our absolute favourite though is Arthur's 27 at Wyndham Palace.

 

[Aubrey]

Thanks FLeisure for the tip. We don't mind driving since the lunch is to fit in between an airboat trip with Boggy Creek and a late afternoon flight. I just don't want to schlep accross town since Boggy Creek's eastern location is already pretty near MCO. I'm not familiar with Sand Lake, though. What should I be looking for there?

 

[FLeisure]

If you're doing an airboat trip on Boggy Creek, you are probably better off staying over there as it will take you 30 mins to get to the right part of Sand Lake Rd.

I really have no suggestions for that part of town because there isn't much to be had other than the normal run of the mill stuff. All depends on the timing, it's certainly worth the 30 minute trip if you have time and I'd be tempted by Season's 52 if it was me.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

FLeisure, we ate lunch at TooJay's it was okay but I am from the east and use to really good deli's. I will say that for fun they have a fantastic cake sampler. Three pieces (your choice) of the delicious cakes that they serve. Only 495!!It was meant to share and probably one of the most inexpensive desserts I have ever had. I had choclate cake filled with cheesecake and frosted with fudge, carrot cake and boston creme pie with bananas it. I have eaten at Fishbones and do not think it is all that great. I do not remember it as having white table cloths and I hated the way the soda machine was right out on the floor. The food was not all that memorable too. Timpani's was okay but we have friends who rave about it. Since my son was with us and LOVED the steak at the Samba room we had to return 3 times. On my next trip I will be going Bonefish and you did mention that you liked Cristiani's.
WE were so thrilled to find Sand Lake that we checked out the menu's of most of the restaurants there. It is so funny but my husband's biggest complaint was the lack of good restaurants in Orlando.

 

[LauraR]

I'm looking forward to trying Bahama Breeze also, but doesn't it open at 4 pm? Which wouldn't really work for lunch. So, tell me if I have this right: there's a restaurant called Fishbones, and another restaurant called Bonefish?? Or am I just confused....

 

[FLeisure]

Confused I'd say !

Fishbones and Moonfish....both on Sand Lake.
Bahama Breeze.....personally, I think it['s overrated and very noisy ....but to their own

Enjoy

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Fleisure, correct me if I am wrong but Bonefish is on Sand Lake in the same plaza as the rest of the restaurnats we have been discussing.(ie Seasons 52, Samba Room etc) Fishbones is the one near I drive behind Popeye's Fried Chicken. I was confused too when we were there so I made it a point to check out the sighs. Moon Fish is across the street from Bonefish.
I have never been to Bonefish only Fishbones. Frankly I do not know why anyone would name thier restaurnat Bonefish if there is a Moonfish across the street and a Fishbones down the street.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

it should read signs not sighs!!!!

 

[Pixie_Dust]

Bahama Breeze is a must-do for us, although we go for dinner and have cocktails

 

[kylie&haley'smom]

Was wondering if anyone knows about making ressies at Race Rock and Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville?

 

[zaxmom]

I do believe that all of the Bahama Breeze locations are open for lunch now. They have a special lunch menu and usually can serve off the dinner menu at lunch time as well. If you are looking for a business lunch close to the convention center, I think this would be a good choice. I have never tried the restaurants on Sand Lake (always have kids with us), but the look more upscale than the others around. My husband has been to Seasons 52 and said it was very good. They are supposed to open more of them in other cities, too.