Where do the locals eat?

[dicdover]

When I'm in Orlando on non-Disney business I always eat at the Butcher Block on International Drive. Really good Steaks, up-scale environment and fairly reasonable prices (Priced more like Outback as opposed to Ruth Chris).

 

[fabshelly]

Sonny's.

 

[CPM]

Quote:
Originally Posted by CPM
when you asked for suggestions, were you really looking for somewhere like the Waffle House? Just curious <G>.


Absolutely! Actually, I can eat at Waffle House here at home. Was actually hoping to find places that are not necessarily chain restaurants and local to the Orlando area. And that are very good!

That's what I thought. lol
If you like french, try that Le Coq Au Vin. It's authentic and fabulous!
I'm going to try that Italian one a couple of people reccomended in Dr. Philips. Sounds good.
Pollo Tropical is good, but it's the McDonalds of Cuban food. Not somewhere I would dine on vacation. Maybe a quick lunch, I guess.
Celebration has a lot of good restaurnts and so does the Winter Park area. Both nice places to venture out away from the park area.
Have fun and happy dining!!

 

[Rantybaby]

American soul food - Chit'lings, homemade mac & cheese, greens, sweet potatoes - the usual suspects...The 'Hood would be tha land of the brothers...(I think Parramore is a higher crime area than say, Eatonville, which is the community Zora Neale Hurston came from, the last reamaining community founded by freed slaves. Tourists might not feel safe in Parramore after dark. Whereas I don't feel unsafe in Eatonville, even after dark.)
My husband likes chit'lings, I won't cook 'em, this is where he can get 'em...

I just wanted to make sure we were talkin' 'bout the same thang

 

[tink22]

Some of our local favorites:

Bostons fish house (Orlando and New Smyrna Beach)
Taquitos Jalisco (Authentic mexican, not TexMex)
Pebbles Grille (Crossroads across from LBV)
Houston's (Steak house in winter Park)
Timpano (Sand Lake road)
Emerils and Margaritaville at CityWalk
Dixe Crossroads (I-drive and original in Titusville)
TooJays (Sand Lake Road)
Brio (Millenia Mall)
Kobe Japanese steak house (much better than Teppanyaki)
The Crabhouse
Lee & Rick's oyster bar
Cariera's italian (Dr. Phillips, www.carieras.com)
Habana Grill (cuban in Winter park)
Fiddlers Green (Irish)

These are just a few off the top of my head. I have lived in Orlando for over 30 years.

All so good. I am born and raised in Orlando and have eaten at almost all of these places.
Also love:
The Cheesecake Factory
Cafe Tu Tu Tango
The Catfish Place in St Cloud
Seasons 52
Too Jays Deli
The Melting Pot (soooo good and sooo filling!)
Christinis (Italian food)
Buffalo Wild Wings
Maccaroni Grill
Giordanos Pizza
Ruby Tuesday
Johnny Rockets

 

[otownguy]

All so good. I am born and raised in Orlando and have eaten at almost all of these places.
Also love:
The Cheesecake Factory
Cafe Tu Tu Tango
The Catfish Place in St Cloud
Seasons 52
Too Jays Deli
The Melting Pot (soooo good and sooo filling!)
Christinis (Italian food)
Buffalo Wild Wings
Maccaroni Grill
Giordanos Pizza
Ruby Tuesday
Johnny Rockets

Hey Tink, I like most of these places as well. Curious about the Catfish place in St. Cloud, never heard of it.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

We're not locals but have friends who are & they like to eat on/around property.

Anybody with experiences at Cafe D'Antonio @ Celebration or Bergamo's @ Mercado?

Had been to Bergamo's years ago (12 - 13?) and enjoyed it. Saw it was still around & moving to Festival Mall soon. Thinking maybe....
or D'Antonio.

 

[PatriciaH]

We love Seasons 52 (Dr. Phillips), Melting Pot (Dr Phillips), Texas de Brazil (accross from Festival Bay), Everglades (Rosen Centre Hotel next to the convention center), Cafe Tu Tu Tango (International Drive), Bahama Breeze (near the Crossroads/DD), Seito (Celebration), Market Street Cafe (Celebration), Columbia (Celebration), Town Tavern (Celebration), Joes Crab Shack (Celebration), Plantation Room (Celebration Hotel), Carrabba's (Kirkman Rd and Vineland or 192 near AKL), Logans Roadhouse (near Gaylord Palms), Mekong (9350 192 on the way to Clermont), Jockamo's (3042 Sand Lake Road), Roberto's (26 North Atlantc Avenue Cocoa Beach-if you are going on a Disney Cruise!) Of course we love to eat at WDW too

Yes, we eat out a LOT!

 

[PatriciaH]

Some others that we have not tried yet but hear a lot of good things about:

Hue (downtown Orlando)
Luma on Park (Winter Park)
Salt Island (International Drive)
Samba Room (Sand Lake Road)
Fish Bones (Sand Lake Road)
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse (Sand Lake Road)
Beluga (Winter Park)
Bonefish (W Sand Lake Road)
Timpano's Italian Chophouse (W Sand Lake Road)
Moonfish (W Sand Lake Road)
Dux (Peabody Hotel)

 

[emememem]

Le Coq Au Vin is fabulous...Not a chain, just great French food..

 

[wendy46001]

Le Coq Au Vin is fabulous...Not a chain, just great French food..

Was there two nights ago...wonderful food, always has been...

 

[CPM]

Was there two nights ago...wonderful food, always has been...

Glad to hear it's still good. I need to get there again very soon!!

 

[orljustin]

Jin Ho at Kirkman and Conroy. Excellent five flavored beef and General Tsao's Chicken.

Yellow Dog Eats up in Gotha. Great sandwiches and stuff.

The Melting Pot is always great for fondue.

Jungle Jim's for burgers in crossroads.

 

[Antonia]

I think I'll print this thread and take it with me to Orlando for reference. Thanks everyone who replied!!!!

 

[kennancat]

Argh - there was a good thread like this in one of the other forums and I can't find it now. So I'll try to post from memory. I tend to stick to non-chains since I figure people can get chains at home.

Amigo's Tex-Mex - I-drive (local chain)
Red Bamboo - Thai, I-Drive
Dessert Lady - dessert, Kirkman & Conroy
Coq au Vin - I'll third, fourth, etc. this one. Definitely get the dessert souffle
Blackwater BBQ - right next to Coq au Vin, excellent ribs
San Jose's Mexican - off SR 50
Bill Wong's Super Buffet - Chinese buffet, I-Drive

I know I had more, but that's all I can remember for now. I've seen a few others come up that I'll comment on as well. Christini's - heard it's very good but extremely expensive, especially for Italian food. Don Pablo's - I used to be addicted to this place, but I think the quality has fallen off these past few years. Given a choice between DP and Amigo's, I'll pick Amigo's, especially since they're barely a mile apart on I-drive. Catfish place - DH and I went here with my parents last month for the first time and we enjoyed it. My mom buys their coleslaw to go so she can have it at home. They're right off 192, just east of the turnpike. Good hush puppies

 

[tink22]

Hey Tink, I like most of these places as well. Curious about the Catfish place in St. Cloud, never heard of it.

Oh it's sooo good! It's pretty far out there in St Cloud. Our house is off of Narcoosee Rd and it's way past that. But well worth the drive. Very 'country Florida' favorites like turtle, gator tail, frog legs, and yummy fish too! Oh, and you have to try the fried green tomatoes! Mmmmm....!