Well I am constantly looking for good places to eat outside of the park area and have found a few.
Best cheap burger - Five Guys
An import from the northeast, this place is great. Very simple menu and the burgers are made to order (never frozen beef). It is dressed to order with everything from the basics to stuff like grilled mushrooms, jalapeno's, BBQ sauce, etc. Very casual place.
Still need to eat at - the Fillin Station, BackYard Burgers
Best place to watch a game - The Orlando Ale House
Cheap, decent food and relatively cheap drinks (can get a pitcher for 5 bucks - considering Orlando, thats great). For appetizers, the cheese fries and zingers are winners. But the Chicken Nachos are the story here. Order these for no less than 4 people because it is huge. The bistro burger is great. TVs all over the place but they are not obnoxiously intrusive like Buffalo Wild Wing's can be.
Best Mexican - Garibaldi Mexican Rest
Relatively authentic (as real as your gonna get in the chain restaurant capital of the world). Located off Sand Lake Blvd by the Florida Mall. Closest thing I have found in Orlando to the stuff you can get in the Southwest.
Best Pizza - Giordano's
Good Orlando pizza - a true oxymoron. Orlando just does not do pizza well. When I would rather stay home with DiGiorno's, that should say something. Having said that, I liked this place - though it was pricey (for someone who likes to eat frugally). The deep dish pizza is a different style though and incredibly rich. Even the hungriest individuals may only be able to handle 2-3 slices.
Still need to eat at - American Pie Pizza Company (have heard really good things but it is out of the way).
Best Homecookin - Mimi's Cafe
I did not want to go here for some time but finally broke down cuz the person I was with wanted to go. And I found my fav dish of all time - Chicken Fried Steak. And it was the best one I have found in Orlando. So this gets high marks from me. Better than Cracker Barrel IMO.
Best Italian - still lookin
Have not been to Antonio's yet and that seems to be the local's choice. Also really want to try Il Pescatore, a small family run italian rest in mid Orlando.
Other notables -
Cafe TuTu Tango (I-Drive) - an interesting 'starving artist' type of place. The decor and atmosphere are great and the service is casual. Can get very busy as it is very popular. All of the dishes are appetizers and meant to be shared among the group. This is not the place to go if you are hungry as it does not really fill you up and can get a bit expensive.
Bahama Breeze (536) - decent chain. Went there for lunch and had the Quesadilla w/soup. The seafood chowder was excellent in a clam chowder kind of way (though I think it had shrimp and scallops). Overall good.
Macaroni Grill (536) - For an italian chain rest, it gets high marks from me. I love their lasagna.
Mmmmm... I eat out too much. However, if yall have more suggestions, let me know. I would love to check them out. I will definitely have to try out Bubbalou's soon.
P.S. Though this is technically on property, if you have not had the ribs from the House of Blues, you owe yourself to check them out.
or (I don't think this counts?) The Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney.
The I-Drive location is my favorite.
