Headed to Orlando, next week. Staying in the Arrezzo way area. Interested in local spots, any type of food ok.
Interested in local seafood or any other local specialities.
Thanks

Fogo De Chau is excellent rodizio but pricey. Del Frisco's is an excellent steak house but pricey. If you don't mind driving an hour or so to Titusville, Dixie Crossroads is down to earth, reasonably priced for seafood and out of this world amazing, the rock shrimp are to die for.

One of my favorites in that part of the world is The Columbian. Local chain of upper end Cuban food.

Not a local but we really enjoyed Cafe Tu Tu Tango a tapas place, very casual and Tapa Toro, a bit nicer, food was excellent but the highlight was the Flamenco dancer. I believe they are both on International. We will definitely be going back to both

There are so many good restaurants down that way.

Texas de Brazil for endless meat and gluttony.

Del Friscos for an amazing steak and the best wine list in Orlando.

Ocean Prime also has a really good steak, and seafood.

Rocco's Tacos, sit outside by the lake and get a margarita. The Black Diamond is my favorite.

For seafood you have lots of options. MoonFish, BigFin and Eddie V's are all really good.

And there are many more.

You are right by Sandlake Road. Added to all the others that are mentioned, another good choice is Roy's, for Pacific fusion, and Cedar's which is excellent Mediterranean cuisine. For sushi, you are very close to Nagoya, which is excellent.

The disadvantage to the lists you have gotten, is that Sandlake area is "high tourist" area, and will be relatively expensive, as will the restaurants on International Drive, which is also nearby.

If you are looking for more "family" priced places, you can go a bit south of where you are staying to the restaurants near the hotels on Rt. 535 (Vineland Road) where you can find Landry's which is very nice seafood, BJ's Brewhouse for beer and grill food, and even regular chains like Applebees, Uno's, etc. You won't find much "family owned" in that area as it is all vacation area.

My favorite in Orlando is Texas de Brasil, a churrascaria restaurant.

quote:

Originally posted by bigeinkcmo:
Columbia Restaurant, in nearby Celebration, has great Cuban food.

THIS as well, the one in Ybor City (Tampa) is Florida's oldest Cuban restaurant. Texas De Brazil is very good and solid, but I prefer Fogo a bit better.

I wouldn't bother with the The Palm, it's attached to Hard Rock hotel. The wife and I split a ribeye and a whole lobster, it was just ok for $300

quote:

Arrezzo way

Artie gave you good advice, as did others, the places we frequent are on the north side or down town and you really don't need to drive all the way up there with the options around you.

If you need a nice bourbon and cigar slip over to Corona Cigar Dr Phillips Area its just across I-4 from you,

Sand Lake Rd area is dubbed restaurant row

Restaurant Row

quote:

Originally posted by BigSwede:
I wouldn't bother with the The Palm, it's attached to Hard Rock hotel. The wife and I split a ribeye and a whole lobster, it was just ok for $300

How many drinks did you have?

quote:

Originally posted by Warhorse:

quote:

Originally posted by BigSwede:
I wouldn't bother with the The Palm, it's attached to Hard Rock hotel. The wife and I split a ribeye and a whole lobster, it was just ok for $300

How many drinks did you have?

You act like you know me


Seriously though, I think I had two Manhattans and the wife probably had a glass or two of Chianti or Gewürztraminer

quote:

Originally posted by BigSwede:
Not a local but we really enjoyed Cafe Tu Tu Tango a tapas...

One of our favorites as well.



.

FWIW I had THE VERY BEST spaghetti and meatballs I've ever put in my mouth in 47 years on this planet at Mama Della's which is part of the Universal resort.

I'd go back to Florida just for that.
Mama Della's Ristorante

To stay away from tourists, I go to Colonial Drive- (aka 50.) Linda's La Cantina. A good old school filet on cast iron but the Ribeye is good as well.

I also enjoy "Tin and Taco" at any of their locations. There are some good bar and grill spots in College park.

Café Madrid is a good Deli & Bakery that serves Cuban and PR food. Good for the $.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:
Titusville, Dixie Crossroads is down to earth, reasonably priced for seafood and out of this world amazing, the rock shrimp are to die for.

There are still around? Amazing, they are long time staple of fine seafood at great prices. I traveled that area extensively in the 80's and always made it a point to eat there! How cool to know they are still doing well.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:

quote:

Originally posted by bigeinkcmo:
Columbia Restaurant, in nearby Celebration, has great Cuban food.

THIS as well, the one in Ybor City (Tampa) is Florida's oldest Cuban restaurant. Texas De Brazil is very good and solid, but I prefer Fogo a bit better.

This is the "chain" I was referencing. Columbia not Columbian. My bad.

Are you STILL going??? Guessing not. A hunch.

If you like Sushi, try Kabuki Sushi. It's a long Uber ride over, and doesn't look like much. But it's the best I've ever had.

quote:

Originally posted by BigNC:

Linda's La Cantina.

This place has been around forever. The consensus seems to be that the steaks are excellent, but the environment is terrible, crowded seating, noisy, long waits to be seated even with a reservation, long waits to be served after being seated, arrogant management, so what's not to like?

Again, the food itself is great, if you are willing to put up with all the other crap.

Parking is terrible too. The parking lot will not accommodate anywhere near the seating capacity of the restaurant.

In short, there are better choices.

I do second the recommendation for Dixie Crossroads, but it is at least a two hour round trip drive east of Orlando, to Titusville. Good selection of fresh fish and shellfish, reasonably priced, service is generally good.

Another option would be to take I-4 east and go to New Smyrna Beach, just south of Daytona. There are a couple of places (Down The Hatch comes to mind but it's not the only one) that are situated on the waterfront and have their own fishing boats. The fish that you are served was swimming around in the ocean a few hours before it hits your table. Can't get much fresher than that.

It has been a few years since I have been there, so I don't know whether this is still a menu choice, but when I was there last, a very reasonable fee would get all you can eat of whatever fish they caught the most of that day, served sort of like fish & chips. The waitress just kept coming to refill the supply until we asked her to stop.

Another place that I just remembered is in Orlando -- Boston's Fish. I always like the fried oysters there, but there are other decent choices, reasonable cost. My favorite side is the onion rings. Some of the best that I have ever had.

I did say old school.... I have only been to Linda's a dozen or so times over the last 20 years because I prefer my own steak. It is exactly what I expect from a crappy old steakhouse with good steak. Never had the issues with service that vtail mentions but I DO eat when my body says- not the clock.