The Dining Experience in Orlando

One of the most enjoyable experiences in taking a vacation in Florida is sampling the unique and diverse variety of cuisine that the state offers. Florida is known for bringing great dining experiences to locals and visitors. Whether fine dining or casual eat-outs, there is something for everyone in Florida. Since Orlando is the one of the famous vacation spots in the U.S., it is not surprising that you will find the best restaurants in this part of the country. The city boasts of more than 4500 restaurants and bars which bring gastronomic diversity for everyone.

Florida credited its multicultural cuisine to the fact that the state used to be inhabited by Spain during the early 1500s. The cooking style and ingredients introduced by the Spaniards were mixed with the flavors introduced by Africans when they came to Florida in the sixteenth century. As the years go by, Florida became accustomed to both Southern and Spanish cuisines, which are incorporated with a wide array of spices and flavors. The migration of Cuban refugees in the state resulted to the widespread introduction of Cuban cuisine, and foods such as arroz con pollo, Cuban-style sandwiches and black beans became common in the area. The cuisine in Florida is further influenced by the arrival of other ethnic groups, such as the Bahamians, the Vietnamese and the Haitians.

With so many dining options, you have to select the best restaurants in order to enjoy eating out when you are in Orlando. To make this task less daunting for you, here are some of the most recommended restaurants in the city, from the affordable to the expensive.

If you are looking for gourmet food in a relaxed atmosphere, then book a table at Journey’s Restaurant in Longwood. Treat yourself to a wide variety of dishes blended in rich spices and flavors. Try their escargots, Peri Peri prawns and their lamb racks. Journey’s serves lunch and dinner.

Those craving for traditional Italian food should not miss dining at Maggiano’s Little Italy in Pointe Orlando. You can order single or family-style serving for pasta, seafood, salads and seafood. Get your fill of their veal marsala, filet mignon, chicken parmesan and gnocchi in tomato sauce. During Sundays, make sure to order their Italian Pot Roast. Cap each dinner off with tiramisu or the restaurant’s signature spumoni ice cream.

Featuring the culinary masterpieces of renowned chef Wolfgang Puck, the restaurant in Downtown Disney is perfect for family dinners, casual lunches and business meetings. Enjoy Wolfgang’s classic dishes which include fish, salad, hand-crafted sandwiches, fresh-made soups, and his signature pizza. There is also a sushi bar for fresh fish lovers.

Another Italian restaurant that you must try, Bergamo’s offers classic Italian fare in a fine dining setting. Listen to authentic Neapolitan folk songs, classic opera and Broadway tunes while enjoying your pasta and wine.

Funky Monkey is the best place for good chow and relaxed atmosphere. Located at North Meals Avenue, the restaurant has the distinction of owned and operated by the directors of the largest wine and food appreciation society in the U.S., The Tasters Guild Orlando. Recommended dishes include their yellow fish tuna, grilled shrimp with rich blue cheese polenta and yellow tale snapper. Funky Monkey also serves sushi, and there are certain hours where you can get the sushi for half the original price.

Speaking of sushi, Banshoo Sushi Bar at the Rosen Centre Hotel is another option for Japanese food lovers. Expect quality sushi creations here because the restaurant is serves the creations of Chef Tadayoshi Kohazame, a sushi expert of 20 years. Aside from sushi, they also have sashimi and other seafood dishes, to be washed down with various wines, cocktails and of course, sake.

Known as the Best Latin Restaurant in the city, Cuba Libre Restaurant and Rum Bar on International Drive, Pointe Orlando offers the best in Cuban American cuisine. Dine in the exciting atmosphere of the 1940s, as salsa dancers and Cuban percussionists relieve the entertainment of the Old Havana.

Steak lovers should not miss dining here at A Land Remembered, a restaurant named after the Patrick Smith Novel. The interiors and the food at the restaurant live up well to the Florida landscapes and historical moments described in the novel. Enjoy nothing less than Harris Ranch Prime Black Angus Beef, served with succulent wine. A Land Remembered is located at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel and serves dinner daily.

Considered as the priciest restaurant in Orlando, Victoria & Albert’s is the best place to go to if you want to have mouth-watering gourmet dinner, regardless of the cost. The restaurant won a Five Diamond Award from the AAA and was included at Zagat’s list of National Top Ten Restaurants. You have to shell out around USD 175 per person for their succulent guinea hen with morels and truffle foam or Monterey abalone with Meyer lemon and capers. Dress code is strictly formal and make sure to reserve days in advance, especially if you are aiming for the Chef’s table.

This fine dining restaurant located at the heart of Winter Park is a great place for those craving to dine on classic American cuisine done in upscale style. Open for lunch and dinner, Circa 1926 is near Full Sail University, Rollins College and the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. Make sure to drop by the restaurant after a day at the museum.

Located at The Dolphin at Walt Disney World, Todd English’s Bluezoo has won numerous local and international accolades as well as top ratings in dinner guides. As expected, Bluezoo is all about seafood. You must try the restaurant’s signature dish, the dancing fish, which is split-roasted whole fish and filleted right at your table. The seafood-theme extends to the décor. The restaurant is adorned with flowing wall designs, hazy blue light in the bar and chandeliers made of glass balls, which look like water bubbles.