The 10 Essential Orlando Restaurants You MUST Try!

So you’re newly arrived in Orlando and looking at a bewildering line-up of dining options, from fast-food outlets like Arby’s and Taco Bell to equally confusing chain restaurants such as Olive Garden and Chilis.

And then there are literally dozens of one-off options that all have the look of great culinary temptation, but how do you know?

Fear not! With all our years of experience in Central Florida, we have compiled plenty of restaurant know-how, and we’re ready to pass on that knowledge in the form of our Top 10 essential dining experiences across all types.

In this instance, we’ll confine our restaurant review to everything outside the theme parks, as this is where you will find the majority, as well as those that are unique to this part of Central Florida, then we’ll give you our top 10 must-try places inside Disney and Co in a future blog.

In various categories, we’re looking for distinctive regional and national cuisines, breakfast and steak specialists, Latin flavours, outstanding seafood and true originals. All have genuine one-of-a-kind claims, and all will ensure good value for your tourist dollars.

With no further ado, let’s get right to it and give you our essential list for memorable dining in the Theme Park Capital of the World.

Best of British

When you need those essential tastes of home, head for this hard-working cafe/pub/restaurant in the heart of villa territory on Highway 27. Not only do they have an excellent range of British beers and ciders, they also offer a proper Sunday roast as well as traditional pub grub seven days a week and tasty temptations like crumpets, sausage rolls and home-made scones.

Café Tu Tu Tango

We’ve been smitten by this eye-catching, eclectic hangout on International Drive since it opened more than 30 years ago. Is it an art gallery or restaurant? We don’t know, but you can indulge your arty side by watching artists at work while you chow down on ultra-tasty small-plate dishes that are ideal to share. There is also live music and a lively vibe that is perfect for those leisurely holiday evenings.

Maxine’s On Shine

Head for downtown Orlando and you’ll find this fab bar-restaurant in the Colonialtown residential area. A true locals’ hangout, it features a famous weekend brunch (Fri-Sun, 10am-3pm) that brings folks from miles around (reservations are always a good idea) and offers must-try dishes such as Crab Cakes, Fried Green Tomatoes and Chicken & Waffles. The vibe is suitably eclectic and the Sangria and Mimosas are pretty good, too!

First Watch

As loath as we are to put a chain restaurant in our Top 10, this California import is an absolute must-try for breakfast, brunch or lunch. There are almost 20 in the Greater Orlando area, and they are only open from 7am to 2.30pm, so this isn’t the place for a late lunch, but everything on the menu is fresh and tempting, and you’ll find way more original offerings than in the other chain breakfast places.

Briarpatch

When you’re visiting the swish city suburb of Winter Park, lunch should definitely be at this delightful pavement café-style restaurant on Park Avenue. A local fixture for more than 40 years, Briarpatch also serves up great breakfast, brunch and sandwich specialities, as well as pastries and cakes. Equally delightful on their outdoor patio or elegant dining room, they also feature some excellent burgers.

Fogo de Chao

With all the Brazilian visitors that typically pour into Orlando (second only to the UK for overseas visitation), you’d expect to find a restaurant or two that reflect the national cuisine, and here’s one of the best. A delightful setting, including an outdoor patio, is just the place for a traditional Churrasco-style meal, with a variety of fresh-roasted meats on skewers, served tableside. It also includes a rich Feijoada Bar of salads, veggies, cheeses and cured meats. A real feast, so come hungry!

Sofrito Latin Café

Talking of Latin flavours, this unassuming – but super-tasty – restaurant close to Disney is a great one-stop shop for the flavours of Cuba, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela and more. From a classic Cuban Sandwich to traditional Venezuelan Arepas, this is where you can really indulge in many of Florida’s imported culinary influences, and at very reasonable prices. Insider tip Their ‘Main Event’ dishes are usually enough for two.

Lee & Rick’s Oyster Bar

Much of Florida’s cuisine comes directly from the seas around its coast, and that means there is a preponderance of great seafood restaurants serving it up. One of the oldest is this modest locals hangout that opened in 1950. Just off Kirkman Road north of Universal. Since then, it has earned the deserved reputation for the Gulf Coast speciality of oysters, as well as shrimp, crab, crawfish and mussels. Their famous Oyster Bar is 80ft long (!), and they offer some of the freshest shellfish you’ll find in Central Florida.

Anthony’s Coal-Fired Pizza

This genuine Orlando original first opened in 2002 and has become such a hit, it has grown to 59 locations in eight states, including three in the Orlando area and four in Tampa. Its secret is an authentic Italian pizza recipe that is flash-baked in coal-fired brick ovens and which comes out deliciously crispy. As a bonus they also now offer fab chicken wings in two contrasting styles, as well as pasta and great sandwiches.

Kres Chophouse

When it comes to upscale dining in downtown Orlando, it’s hard to beat this long-serving and distinctive venue in a historic building on Church Street. Specialising in steak, chops and fresh fish, it is definitely a special occasion choice, but also offers a leisurely lunch in its classy confines that comes at a more modest price. It’s a great starting – or ending – point for any evening out in downtown, and is well worth adding to your ‘Must-Try’ list, especially for repeat visitors.

There are certainly plenty of others we could also recommend – notably the fine Vietnamese of Little Saigon, eclectic Deli style of Yellow Dog Eats and East End Market signature restaurant Domu – while there are new places opening all the time, so be on the lookout for YOUR essential must-try eatery!

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