Something different to eat out-side the world

[WildGrits]

We are doing two weeks in WDW with a split between free dining at the CBR and 40% off the room at the AKL. During the first week we will have hit all our favs inside the world for dinner. But the second week we would like to eat at some local spots that are "different".

So I have a few questions. What are some of your favs outside the world? What about the lobster buffets? Is Crazy Grill worth over $30 a person?

Our ADRs are Ragland Road, Boma, Le Cellier, Ohana, Coral Reef, Crystal Palace, and Liberty Tree Tavern.

We aren't interested in any Chinese Buffets, Mexian or Japanese.

Thanx for your help.

 

[PrinceCharmingsMom]

Logan's Roadhouse on 192 is one of our must do's every trip. Usually the first night.

 

[bella77]

My sister and I try to squeeze in a trip to Giordano's pizza every time we are in Orlando. It's a Chicago based restaurant that specializes in "stuffed" pizza, and it's amazing!

 

[Keacc]

Besides going to Logans Roadhouse, my family loves Carrabbera’s Restaurant on 192 west of WDW (Italian), and Landry's on 535 near DTD (Seafood).

 

[polkadotminnie]

Bahama Breeze is our fav off-site.

 

[Jason71]

Bahama Breeze is quite good, about as different as chains get.

For a unique expereince, try Cafe TuTu Tango on I-Drive.

 

[TotoToo]

My sister and I try to squeeze in a trip to Giordano's pizza every time we are in Orlando. It's a Chicago based restaurant that specializes in "stuffed" pizza, and it's amazing!

ALWAYS do Giordano's at least once each visit to Orlando.

A new & additional favorite is a rather unique (for Orlando at least) coal fired pizza - very thin, crisp & unique taste. It's called Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza and the place does a tremendous business. They are already talking - nope opened! - a second location in Orlando (they are a chain out of Miami). Give it a try Right on Turkey Lake Road at Sand Lake Rd - the Whole Foods Plaza.

 

[Birdman1511]

Another vote for Giordano's... best pizza there is(in orlando anyway)

 

[chalee94]

there are some good choices in celebration.

i like celebration town tavern for new england-style seafood. i've heard great things about columbia restaurant for cuban food but haven't been there yet.

celebration town tavern website

http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/celebration.asp

 

[WildGrits]

OMG!!!!! The Columbia!!!! I haven't been there since 1980.

The one in St Augustine that is. I will definately have to keep that in mind.

Also the TuTu looks interesting also with decent prices I minght add.

Great Options, please keep them coming all.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Tu Tu is good, but it adds up quickly if you aren't careful. They serve small plates, so you really need to order at LEAST 2 items per person. It's been a few years since I've eaten there. I loved the chophouse next door, I think it's called Vito's. Again it's been a few years, and the place is not super inexpensive. But the chocolate cake is HUGE: one slice is enough for the whole table! the steak is excellent, and theone bite I had of the kids' hamburger was seriously the best burger I ever tasted!

Logan's was okay, but not as good as the Texas Roadhouse chain- I thought.

Orlando is home to just about every chain concept out there - and 'good' branches of many of them. It's a prime place to test new concepts. The most well established chains tend to be a bit on the blah side in Orlando (like the last time I tried the Denny's on I-Drive) , but less common chains tend to be very good in Orlando.

One chain that got rave reviews a few years ago was Sweet Tomatos. I think it's off Sand Lake Dr. It's a big salad bar, with pizza, soup, self serve ice cream. It's a bit light on meat, and a bit heavy on doughy foods. (Pizza, fresh breads, chocolate brownie) however, for the price, it's lots of fresh salad, tasty soups. Or at least it was a few years ago.


Getting off of I-Drive is generally a good thing. The Kissimee/192 side of the area also kind of drops off quickly. Getting further from WDW/SW/US may well mean better food - but it eats time quickly.

 

[mrzrich]

there are some good choices in celebration.

i like celebration town tavern for new england-style seafood. i've heard great things about columbia restaurant for cuban food but haven't been there yet.

celebration town tavern website

http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/celebration.asp

I second the Celebration Town Tavern. We love the place

Also the Orlando Ale House near the Crossroads is good and cheap!

http://www.millersalehouse.com/

(I know the website says Millers. It is a chain, some go by "Millers Alehouse, others go by the name of the city they are in)

The one near DTD (Crossroads) is listed as Buena Vista Ale house on the website, but the name on the sign outside says Orlando Ale House. (they just want to confuse me)

 

[klj27]

I just ordered a bunch of gift certificates from restaurant.com for our trip next week! I used a code for an extra 80% off.

 

[steelebug]

There is also an italian place in Celebration that is excellent!

 

[Redwitch]

I just ordered a bunch of gift certificates from restaurant.com for our trip next week! I used a code for an extra 80% off.

Which restaurants did you get?

 

[powellrj]

Which restaurants did you get?

I'm not the OP, but we used 3 a couple of weeks ago. We got BB Kings, O'Charleys and House of Blues. Really enjoyed BB Kings as something different. O'Charleys was good, but your basic chain. House of Blues wasn't as good as it use to be. The menu is much smaller, but we had soups and sandwiches and did enjoy them.

 

[Beckypooh1972]

There are plenty of chain restaurants on Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy also referred to as Hwy 192. We tried a local restaurant a few years ago that my husband talked me into eating at - Key W Kools Oak Grill. From the outside it looks like it might be a loud bar and grill but it is anything but; the exterior of the building is deceptive as it has bright neon lights but inside we found a darkened romantic room filled with white table cloth covered tables. We enjoyed our steaks and the service was unobtrusive and attentive. The food was good and the portions filling - more for the American palate -this was steak and baked potato fare which we enjoyed. Of the chain restaurants, we also liked Sweet Tomatoes (mentioned by a PP), we liked Bahama Breeze but I think it has closed down, I'd google or call before starting out there, Romano's Macaroni Grill has been consistently good, and we love Bonefish Grill (seafood that puts Disney's seafood offerings to shame) but that is more in the Orlando area off I-4 - we had a fabulous meal there a couple of years ago.

 

[TotoToo]

There are plenty of chain restaurants on Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy also referred to as Hwy 192. Of the chain restaurants, we also liked Sweet Tomatoes (mentioned by a PP), we liked Bahama Breeze but I think it has closed down, I'd google or call before starting out there, Romano's Macaroni Grill has been consistently good, and we love Bonefish Grill (seafood that puts Disney's seafood offerings to shame) but that is more in the Orlando area off I-4 - we had a fabulous meal there a couple of years ago.

Sweet Tomatoes seems too limited in menu choices and a bit over priced to us, although it is fresh and some really like it. Bahama Breeze closed a bunch of locations but they are still open at all the Orlando locations I'm aware of.

Macaroni Grill had been a favorite of ours for many years. Sadly the last 3 or 4 visits have been extremely disappointing as they changed the menu selections and even the old favorites still listed aren't the same as they used to be. It seems they are doing more prepared food rather than fresh made OR they have cut the quality of ingredients used as there has been a distinct fall off in the quality. 1 time I assumed was a fluke but two more attempts with the same results tells me they have cut quality and, unfortunately, has caused us to drop them from our list of favorites. Fortunately there are plenty of alternatives to replace them in Orlando.

 

[Detailor]

we liked Bahama Breeze but I think it has closed down, I'd google or call before starting out there

There are two Bahama Breeze restaurants in Orlando - one on International Drive and one in the general Lake Buena Vista area at the intersection of Vineland Avenue and route 535. Well worth the visit.

Dick Taylor

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I just ordered a bunch of gift certificates from restaurant.com for our trip next week! I used a code for an extra 80% off.

Do you have the code? What restaurants did you get?