Orlando, Florida is a great vacation spot. It’s great for kids, families, adults and couples. Anyone can find enjoyment in Orlando. If you’re a kid, of course you’re going to enjoy the theme parks, especially the enchanted world of the Magic Kingdom. If you’re an adult, you’ll love the amenities at the fabulous resorts, my favorite being the Marriott Grande Vista near Sea World. There’s something for everyone in this magical place.
Of course, if you visit Orlando, there’s something everyone will have in common- you have to eat. Big or small, young or old, you’ll have to find good places to sink your teeth into some seafood, pasta, and/or steaks. You’ll want to please your palette to help your overall enjoyment of the trip.
Are you planning to visit Orlando, Florida this fall, or really any time of year? If so, where will you eat? There are so many places to eat in Orlando, that the choices can be overwhelming. Will you pick a place with good food? Will you find somewhere that has reasonable prices?
Here are my top ten restaurants for Orlando, Florida and the reason for choosing each one. There is also contact information provided by following the links to the site of the restaurant.
1. Seaworld’s Sharks Underwater Grill. This is the best restaurant in Orlando. It is a little pricier, so just order an entree and no appetizer or dessert to keep the bill reasonable. This is a restaurant you have to experience. You eat in front of the shark tank, watching the sharks swim around during your meal. It’s very peaceful and relaxing, and the lights are dim. The menu boasts seafood items such as snapper (which is great!), and filet mignon. The plate presentation is incredible, and the chefs hand create each item. I recommend the shrimp and smoked chicken barbecue also. Make sure to get a reservation when you enter the park that day, as the seating fills up fast!
2. San Angel Inn in Mexico country at Epcot. This restaurant is inside the River of Time Attraction at Epcot. You will dine “outdoors” of the Inn, but inside the attraction. It is a unique experience. You dine in twilight. The restaurant is old-Mexican style, with grilled shrimp, pasta, Mahi-Mahi, and grilled beef tenderloin, for example, with prices about $20 a plate. Like the above, just don’t order appetizers or dessert, or perhaps split an entree. You must make reservations in advance, because this restaurant is so popular. You can reserve up to 180 days in advance.
3. Rainforest Cafe, located at Downtown Disney. This is such an interesting restaurant because it looks like you’re dining in a rainforest! Truly! You will be surronded by elephants and gorillas that actually move and make noises, with exotic plants and fish aquariums with real fish! The best thing is that the amount of food you get is huge! You could order just a salad and fill up, which is what makes this restaurant help with the budget.
4. Ghirardelli’s at Downtown Disney. This is a place for an icecream snack, true, but it had to make the list. Have you ever eaten Ghirardelli chocolate? If so, you can only imagine what the ice cream will taste like. I had a hot fudge and caramel sundae with cookies and cream ice cream that was so incredible I didn’t know what to do with myself! The best part is that when you go in the side that sells chocolate, you can get a free sample. Also, many of the Orlando free coupon books and guides you get (such as when you pick up a rental car), will give you a coupon for $1 off a sundae!
4. Copa Loca at Marriott’s Grande Vista. Marriott’s Grande Vista is a wonderful place to stay- I recommend it for anyone coming to Orlando for a vacation or getaway. The Copa Loca is an outdoor-seated restaurant with small items, such as hamburgers and salads. It is situated right beside the pool and in a newer section of the resort. The prices are reasonable, and you get an adequate size plate! The salad I ordered for $8 with chicken lasted for two meals. The ambience is also nice, sitting beside the pool and then taking a swim.
5. Flipper’s Pizzeria. This is where everyone orders pizza for delivery, especially later when restaurants have closed. They have more than one location, including one by Sea World and one on International Drive by Wet ‘n Wild. In addition to brick oven pizza, they also serve pasta dishes, sandwiches and wraps. You can also dine there if you don’t want delivery. The prices are reasonable and the restaurant is very accessible, in terms of its hours and convenience.
6. Carabba’s Italian Grill. You can find this restaurant in different places around the United States, but I recommend it specifically for Orlando. This is because it’s an authentic Italian restaurant that won’t cost you as much as some of the other true Italian Restaurants in Orlando. For instance, spaghetti with meatballs costs $11.99 at Carabba’s, compared to $20 at some of the other restaurants. Also on the menu are wood-fired pizzas, soups, salads, and appetizers.
7. Tony Roma’s- This is a barbecue restaurant with a flair. The prices are reasonable, and the taste exquisite. The best item is the ribs, but you can also get steaks, chicken and seafood. They have a great secret barbecue recipe. You can find more than one location in Orlando, with one right on International Drive!
8. Jiko at Disney’s Animal Kingdom- This restaurant is different. The cuisine is African, and the ambience is an African sunset with two wood-burning ovens flaming. The menu is a little more pricey, so save this one for your one special treat on your vacation. The price is about $30 per plate. Maybe you could share meals or just order an appetizer to keep with the budget. The influences of the cuisine are Mediterranean coast, India and Europe, with entrees including chicken, seafood and steak. The flavorings are mainly African!
9. Boston Lobster Feast- This is the only restaurant I have ever heard of that has all you can eat lobster. This is budget-minded because you can sit here for hours and eat enough for the whole day, right? Then you save on the price of breakfast and dinner. You also get all-you-can-eat shrimp, crab, oysters, salmon, roast beef, pasta and fish, to include a few. Desserts also lace the feast line. Locations include Kissimmee, Florida Mall, and International Drive.
10. Pacino’s Italian Ristorante. I put this on the budget because you can often find coupons to this restaurant in Orlando coupon books or from your resort or hotel. Also, it’s an unforgettable experience. The food is very fresh and features pastas, steaks and seafood. They have an open copper Sicilian grill, so you can watch items being cooked! You may want to make a reservation in busier times, such as holidays and weekends!
