Restaurant name across from Cheesecake Factory in Mall at Milenia?

[Bella the Ball 360]

What is the name of the restaurant across from the Cheesecake Factory in the Mall at Millenia(sp?)? It is an Italian restaurant and I was wondering if anyone has tried it and if it is good? We went to MM last year for the first time and before we even got there we ate at Mimi's Cafe which was OK. Each time we go to Orlando we like to try at least one new restaurant.

 

[Milldew]

The name of the Restaurant is BRIO TUSCAN GRILLE. We haven't eaten there but you can view the menu on-line http://www.brioitalian.com/menu/

I'm not sure if the link I posted will show up...if it didn't just do a google search on the restaurant name to view the menu on-line.

 

[ducklite]

We've eaten there, the food and service were both terrific!

Anne

 

[kerrynic78]

We have been twice and really enjoyed it.

 

[Funwith4kids]

Should this place be considered for Easter breakfast/brunch? Any other recommendations for Easter b'fast/brunch before we hit the road home.

 

[calgarygary]

We did Sunday Brunch at the Ritz Carlton and felt the quality and variety of the food and the great service were well worth the price. My only regret was that I was driving and could not take full advantage of the champagne.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Thanks I will check it out.

 

[ducklite]

Should this place be considered for Easter breakfast/brunch? Any other recommendations for Easter b'fast/brunch before we hit the road home.

My favorite brunch in Orlando is at the Peabody. Just sublime!

I don't know if Brio does brunch. I'll be at Milennia this week, have a coupon for M&S to use, and I'll inquire.

Anne

 

[UKDEB]

We've eaten at Brio Tuscan Grill several times. It's not fantastic, but it's a pleasant environment and the food's nice enough. We've always seem to end up being seated on the terrace, which is great for people-watching (unlike the others there, the terrace is inside the mall). Of the four main restaurants there, it would probably be my last choice. I'm not quite sure why, because I think the standard of both the restaurant and the food is probably a match for the others.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

We've eaten at Brio Tuscan Grill several times. It's not fantastic, but it's a pleasant environment and the food's nice enough. We've always seem to end up being seated on the terrace, which is great for people-watching (unlike the others there, the terrace is inside the mall). Of the four main restaurants there, it would probably be my last choice. I'm not quite sure why, because I think the standard of both the restaurant and the food is probably a match for the others.

Since you mention 4 restaurants in this mall and all I can remember is TG and Cheescake Factory, could you tell me the name and your opinion of the other two. AS I said in my original post, I am always looking for new places to dine while in Orlando.

 

[kerrynic78]

Last year we did Easter Brunch at Villa de Flora, a restaurant inside the Gaylord Palms Hotel and it was amazing. We go there a lot for dinner and thought we would try the brunch, we were so glad we did. We are dying to try the brunch at the Peaody as well.

 

[ducklite]

Since you mention 4 restaurants in this mall and all I can remember is TG and Cheescake Factory, could you tell me the name and your opinion of the other two. AS I said in my original post, I am always looking for new places to dine while in Orlando.

McCormick & Schmicks which is good for fish--we're eating there tonight. The other is PF Changs which is gourmet Chinese. I haven't eaten there yet, but it gets consistantly good reviews.

There's also Blue Martini Lounge which has heavy appetizers (you could easily make a meal out of it) and live entertainment. They have a dress code: Fashionable/Dress Attire Required and they enforce it, so if you are thinking about trying it, leave the shorts and t-shirts home--think anything from business casual to Paris Hilton. The food is OK but IMHO it's a lot of hype.

Anne

 

[UKDEB]

Since you mention 4 restaurants in this mall and all I can remember is TG and Cheescake Factory, could you tell me the name and your opinion of the other two. AS I said in my original post, I am always looking for new places to dine while in Orlando.

I really like McCormick and Schmick's. It's rather upscale in appearance (which might put some off, but really shouldn't as it's not at all stuffy) with some gorgeous curtained booths which accommodate up to four people (you may need to ask for one), but not overly expensive. Their menu is printed daily and includes a huge 'fresh list' as well as regular offerings. I really like the coconut shrimp with horseradish marmalade appetiser.

PF Chang's China Bistro is, in terms of the menu items, not particularly innovative for us. Here in the UK, Chinese restaurants are prolific - I'm not sure if that's quite the same in Florida? I'm guessing not, purely based on the servers' inisistence on describing each menu item in minute detail. Or maybe it's because we're British and they think we might not 'get it'. Our daughter's boyfriend was born in Hong Kong and his parents own a very popular and upscale Cantonese restaurant in our home town, so we do have a good idea of what it's all about. Although it doesn't always get the very best reviews (albeit that could be said of all the restaurants at Mall at Millenia and we like them all), I think they do a pretty good job. We've always enjoyed everything we've eaten there and it's a very pleasant environment.

We like Blue Martini for martinis, but I wouldn't say it's a place for a meal. It's a swanky bar with some pleasant appetisers to eat tapas-style if that's what you're looking for. The 'fashionable attire' notice outside always makes us laugh. What?! I would say that you're likely to feel a little uncomfortable in 'park' attire at any of these restaurants. You won't be turned away, or even made to feel inferior by any of the employees, but most of the patrons will be in 'business casual'.

Eating is absolutely my favourite thing to do and I could go on for hours about all the fantastic places in Orlando. Where do you tend to stay and what kind of places do you normally enjoy?

 

[ducklite]

The 'fashionable attire' notice outside always makes us laugh. What?! I would say that you're likely to feel a little uncomfortable in 'park' attire at any of these restaurants. You won't be turned away, or even made to feel inferior by any of the employees, but most of the patrons will be in 'business casual'.

I disagree. We hadn't been there before and stopped by to take a look, and were in no uncertain terms told that we weren't appropriately dressed to enter--I was in shorts and a t-shirt with flip flops, DH was probably about the same, he might have had jeans on. We were very welcomed at the CHeesecake Factory though.

Anne

 

[Jason71]

I disagree. We hadn't been there before and stopped by to take a look, and were in no uncertain terms told that we weren't appropriately dressed to enter--I was in shorts and a t-shirt with flip flops, DH was probably about the same, he might have had jeans on. We were very welcomed at the CHeesecake Factory though.

Anne's right, it's no joke. I've had friends turned away from Blue Martini for wearing shorts, sneakers, "dress sandals"...and this was on Summer weekends. I think they let jeans slide, but I am not 100% on that.

Truthfully, Blue Martini is overpriced and mostly a place for guys going through mid-life crisises to hook up with their future trophy wives. Give me Cheesecake Factory any day of the week.

 

[UKDEB]

Guys, I haven't explained myself at all well. I am saying that Blue Martini is pretentious in its requirement for fashionable attire (hence my hilarity at the notice). My comment about employees not making you feel uncomfortable was in relation to the other places there, but re-reading my post, I can see that it may have looked as though I was talking about Blue Martini.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I really like McCormick and Schmick's. It's rather upscale in appearance (which might put some off, but really shouldn't as it's not at all stuffy) with some gorgeous curtained booths which accommodate up to four people (you may need to ask for one), but not overly expensive. Their menu is printed daily and includes a huge 'fresh list' as well as regular offerings. I really like the coconut shrimp with horseradish marmalade appetiser.

PF Chang's China Bistro is, in terms of the menu items, not particularly innovative for us. Here in the UK, Chinese restaurants are prolific - I'm not sure if that's quite the same in Florida? I'm guessing not, purely based on the servers' inisistence on describing each menu item in minute detail. Or maybe it's because we're British and they think we might not 'get it'. Our daughter's boyfriend was born in Hong Kong and his parents own a very popular and upscale Cantonese restaurant in our home town, so we do have a good idea of what it's all about. Although it doesn't always get the very best reviews (albeit that could be said of all the restaurants at Mall at Millenia and we like them all), I think they do a pretty good job. We've always enjoyed everything we've eaten there and it's a very pleasant environment.

We like Blue Martini for martinis, but I wouldn't say it's a place for a meal. It's a swanky bar with some pleasant appetisers to eat tapas-style if that's what you're looking for. The 'fashionable attire' notice outside always makes us laugh. What?! I would say that you're likely to feel a little uncomfortable in 'park' attire at any of these restaurants. You won't be turned away, or even made to feel inferior by any of the employees, but most of the patrons will be in 'business casual'.


I would love to hear more. A couple of years ago we discovered Sand Lake Road and have eaten at Timpani, and Samba Room. I try to eat at restaurants to which I do not have access at home. Pf Changs and McCormick are available in Boston.
Eating is absolutely my favourite thing to do and I could go on for hours about all the fantastic places in Orlando. Where do you tend to stay and what kind of places do you normally enjoy?

I would love to hear more. A couple of years ago we discovered Sand Lake Road and have eaten at Timpani, and Samba Room. I try to eat at restaurants to which I do not have access at home. Pf Changs and McCormick are available in Boston. Normally we stay at Vistana but we always have a car and will travel anywhere.

 

[Amity 3]

our Blue Martini at International Plaza is the same way. it's a a very upscale meat market filled with beautiful people. I'm flip-flops and cargo shorts, so I don't fit in or get in.

but I'm all good at the other restaurants there, even Capital Grille, which is a lot more expensive.