Question for the locals

[ms.yt]

I'm looking for suggestions for good casual local restaurants near Universal. We're staying there next week and love to try out new places. It will be my husband and myself and our 10 year old son.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

Cowfish at city walk is great.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

What kind of food do you like? Personal favorites: Yellow Dog Eats (probably the furthest, around 15 minutes but so good), Bento Cafe, and Hot Krust are ones that I frequent (I live very close to Universal).

 

[betterbutter]

Love Bento, it's pretty much "fast food" but a step above most other Asian places. Slate is a fairly new upscale casual place on Sand Lake and is really good and won't break the budget.

 

[ms.yt]

What kind of food do you like? Personal favorites: Yellow Dog Eats (probably the furthest, around 15 minutes but so good), Bento Cafe, and Hot Krust are ones that I frequent (I live very close to Universal).

We like anything! I'm checking these out now. Yellow Dog Eats looks great, especially.

 

[DrivenByDisney]

If you are staying around the Universal area ... We live right off Sand Lake Road here in Dr. Phillips, which is referred to as "Restaurant Row" by many in this area. There are all types of restaurants around here that can range from $40 a person to $1,000 per person.

Some of our favourites:

Beewon Korean Cuisine
Rocco's Tacos
Dragon Fly
Ocean Prime
Slate

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

If you are staying around the Universal area ... We live right off Sand Lake Road here in Dr. Phillips, which is referred to as "Restaurant Row" by many in this area. There are all types of restaurants around here that can range from $40 a person to $1,000 per person.

Some of our favourites:

Beewon Korean Cuisine
Rocco's Tacos
Dragon Fly
Ocean Prime
Slate

Which restaurant would be $1k a person?!

 

[DrivenByDisney]

Which restaurant would be $1k a person?!

Christini's in Dr. Phillips is a very expensive restaurant. We've eaten there a few times (on someone else's dime) and the end bill was well into the $4,000 - $5,000 range. It's a very high end spot to say the least. Not the "best" restaurant I have ever eaten at, though it was very, very good.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

Christini's in Dr. Phillips is a very expensive restaurant. We've eaten there a few times (on someone else's dime) and the end bill was well into the $4,000 - $5,000 range. It's a very high end spot to say the least. Not the "best" restaurant I have ever eaten at, though it was very, very good.

Jeez, that's expensive! I'm assuming a lot of that had to be alcohol, right? I'd love to eat there someday but I can't imagine spending that kind of money on one meal. Is that the best meal you've had in Orlando?

 

[betterbutter]

Jeez, that's expensive! I'm assuming a lot of that had to be alcohol, right? I'd love to eat there someday but I can't imagine spending that kind of money on one meal. Is that the best meal you've had in Orlando?

Yes, a bill at Christinis would not be $1000 pp unless a lot of high end wine was being consumed. I've dined there a few times and it's usually worked out to about $120 pp--with wine, but not Grand Cru's.

 

[DrivenByDisney]

Jeez, that's expensive! I'm assuming a lot of that had to be alcohol, right? I'd love to eat there someday but I can't imagine spending that kind of money on one meal. Is that the best meal you've had in Orlando?

Maybe. It's tough to really say to be honest. Italian food? Yes. And yes, there were a few bottles of wine ordered along with other drinks.

Yes, a bill at Christinis would not be $1000 pp unless a lot of high end wine was being consumed. I've dined there a few times and it's usually worked out to about $120 pp--with wine, but not Grand Cru's.

Yes. "High end" wine was ordered. Though I recall my wife and I both ordered a shrimp cocktail of sorts as a starter and it was $25 per person. S there was $50 on the bill just for 10 shrimp. I remember our (just ours) food bill was somewhere north of $275 a person as the host (who paid for the meal) was gracious enough to accommodate my request to see the bill. However this has been at least four of five month since we dinned there. Things could have changed by now.

Still, to go back to the OP's original question. There are so many restaurants in and around this area, someone's favourite may be the worst dinning experience for another. Taste is taste not a review. I may like one place and someone else could hate it.