Fine dining

OK, so the title%26#39;s a bit pretentious. But we would like to find places to eat in Orlando that are a bit better than the grilled chicken/pasta alfredo joints that seem to proliferate.

Would any local experts care to point us in the direction of some good restaurants that won%26#39;t break the bank?

Fine dining

A very interesting restaurant in the I drive area( just west if I drive on sandlake) is Seasons 52. All the entrees are 500 calories or less. They are very good. They have an excellent by the glass or bottle wine list. It is a national chain, but very nice. The one in Ft. Lauderdale is good too.

Go early, make reservations or hang out in the bar and eat at the bar or grab a booth in the bar the second one comes up.

In the same area is restaurant row with dozens of very interesting restaurants.

Fine dining

La Cantina. Its a great place for steaks at a reasonable price. it has been in orlando for nearly 50 years. The outside, well it doesn%26#39;t look like a fine dining place... but when you go inside you will be treated to a wonderful steak dinner, and warm service. My dad, stepmom, and brother just went last night. my brother was in his glory... with a 12 oz filet mingon. It was sooo hard to be in orlando and know they were going there and not be able to go, but I was still loopy from my surgery, otherwise I would have been there!

Hue in downtown orlando is also well known to have some great choices. Its hip, they have a great martinis. Its near the clubs. I have had good salads and great gin martinis there.

Mason Jardin is in longwood and has been known to have wonderful food for many years. this would be a little pricier. my parents used to go there quite frequently when we lived on that side of town.

Kobe japenesse style steakhouses are also all over the central florida area, they have habatchi style cooking. its really fun, really good, and different. affordable, and you can split entrees.

I have never been but texas de brazil keeps on getting good word of mouth, one of my dads employees went and raved about it. I have a had time recommending where i havent been so I can%26#39;t fully endore this.

The melting pot (although a nationwide chain) serves up some of the best multi course fondue. I mention this only because they have one resturant near the attractions. but for lower prices and the same quality..... go to.....

The colorado fondue company. I feel it%26#39;s better, and they offer cooking the meats on a hot granite stone as well (the flavor is amazing) The price is really really really really reasonable. here is the mention from the website for their dinners for two: This is a great sampler from our menu. Your dinner begins with your selection of one of our signature salads. Follow that choice with any of our appetizers (which are the cheese fondues). Your main course will include filet mignon, breast of chicken, seasonal fresh fish, black tiger shrimp, pork tenderloin, mixed vegetables with red-skinned potatoes, rotini pasta, herb buttered rolls and our delicious homemade sauces. all of that for two people is 44.90! you can%26#39;t beat it. They also have wonderful chocolate fondue for desert with cakes and fruits i believe is an extra 8-10 dollars and well worth it. Its a laid back, cozy, romantic place and i just can%26#39;t recommend it enough.

Dixie Crossroad- I have just recently went to the new one that has open in festival bay. It is a down home place, and while its newest and second location is in a pretty high touristy area, it still has retained some of its charm. The one in titusville (near cocoa cocoa beach) is the orginal. Having been to both either one is great to go to. Although there is a price difference. Everything costs three dollars more at the orlando location. I truely believe this has to do with the high rent costs of having the resturant located in festival bay. however the food is still at rock bottom prices. If you go there... you must get the rock shrimp. In fact if you go there, you will be tempted to get the lobster dinner for 20 dollars (which includes two sides) or one of their big combo platters... with crab legs, shrimp, rock shirmp and scallops for 35 dollars. but dont. at least not the first time you go. The have perfected the rock shrimp at dixie crossroads. They invented a way to crack and split the shells of these wonder shrimp, that taste like little lobsters. You must get them broiled as that is when they are their best and when they are hot squeeze the lemon and some of the butter you were provided with over them so they can soak it up. You can get three dozen for 35 and it comes with two sides. I am a girl and i force myself to eat the three dozen but the two dozen never seems to be enough. The shrimp soup there is also good. They give everyone the best darn cornfritters dusted with powdered sugar you will ever have. its a local gem.

website to colorado fondue

http://www.coloradofondue.com/cfcweb.htm

seminolegirl-didn%26#39;t know you were having surgery. Hope it%26#39;s nothing serious %26amp; you%26#39;re recovering well.

I notice you didn%26#39;t endorse any Downtown Disney or Disney park restaurants. is that because nbc didn%26#39;t ask, or because they pale in comparison to off property choices? Aren%26#39;t Victoria%26amp; Alberts%26amp; Le cellier supposed to be great? I%26#39;ve never been.

seminolegirl06,

any idea what the taxi cost would be from i-drive to the Colorado Fondue?

thanks!

angela

I am going fine, I came home to orlando thursday night, was in and out of the hospital on friday. I have been sleeping a lot that is why i am up soo late... I can%26#39;t sleep. Other than that... I am fine and thank you for asking.

my parents went to V%26amp;As once, but i was young. They never went back eventhough we went to disney each year, so that could or could not have something to do with what they experianced. I haven%26#39;t had many table meals. I had dinner in cinderellas castle a few years ago. When we were young we did counter service, and chef mickeys and cape may. etc. I have gone to wolfgang pucks and fulton%26#39;s crab house as well as the rainforest cafe and the other seafood type place on the whard at downtown disney. But I don%26#39;t recommend places I haven%26#39;t been unless my parents frequent it. The thing is, and after eating several times in cinderellas castle for dinner. the food is good, but you can get better for the price. Everything is really bland to appeal to all palated. My aunt was a chef at disney for a few years and stopped because there was such a lack of creativity she felt constrained. Disney seems to use a lot of pomp and circumstance to hide the fairly generic food.

I think the places I talk about are reasonably priced and have something to offer. I think its good to sometimes get off property. See what else there is too offer. Rub elbows with the locals. Get a local taste of things.

a taxi would be expensive as it is really into orlando.

I would call a taxi company and see if you coudn%26#39;t negotiate a rate.

If a taxi is the only mode of transporation you have to get to colorado fondue... I would suggest going to the melting pot instead. They are have a location closer to I drive and they are a little bit more expensive than colorado fondue, but the money you would save in the taxi ride would more than make up for it.

I would think a taxi one way would be about 30 dollars. (well you could probably negotiate that rate a head of time, if you just popped into a cab it would be more money.

this one would be closest.

http://www.meltingpot.com/Orlandofl/home.html

I mean its a toss up. a taxi to colorado fondue might be expensive but their food isnt as much. plus you could try some of the great beers they have on draft.

Melting pot is more expensive. and you would still need a taxi and the enviroment while really nice and fun is a little more pretenious. I think either way you will end up spending about the same amount of money... especially if you get wine or cocktails from melting pot.

compare the prices and ask your concierge for help in arrangeing transportion.

colorado fondue is on the corner of 436 and red bug lake road in what I want to say is winter springs, but it could be maitland in that area or even winter park...... right at that intersection three suburbs of orlando connect so im not sure which one it is. it is in the true part of orlando.

oh Rolandos has great cuban food too!

Thanks for all the input folks - that%26#39;s really helpful. Without wishing to downplay anyone else%26#39;s contributions, SeminoleGirl has given some great info - thanks. We%26#39;ll check the wesbites of the places you%26#39;ve mentioned and prepare a a list of places to visit.