View Full Version : Somewhere New
As most will know, we have been each year for the past 4 and tend to do the same things each time for dining out. We are going with our friends this year and thought we might like to try somewhere new (apart from Mannys)!!
We frequent:
Manny's (obviously)
Olive Garden
Cheesecake Factory
Outback
Longhorn's
Usual fast food - Johnny Rockets, Mc D's, Subway etc...
We have been but won't return to:
Cici's Pizza
Ponderosa (Don't ask!)
Charleys
Mortons
Denny's
So.....avoiding all the above, where is good? Excluding in the parks and excluding Downtown Disney.
Thanks in advance.
We quite like Carrabba's. Chili's is O.K. Our favourite place for lunch is the golf clubhouse at Southern Dunes - really good salads! Appleby's - not bad!
If you want to try somewhere a bit different - we once went to The Melting Pot in Winter Park with some friends. It is a fondu place. Food was fun and tasty [msntongue]
mary and colin
17-01-2013, 15:15
Have you been to Sweet Tomatoes? Not fine dining but a lovely buffet salad, cheap and cheerful.
Bahama Breeze is a nice place for an evening meal sit out or in and listen to the music.
Texas roadhouse.
Red Lobster if you fancy some fish for a change, i love the salmon there, hubby has the plate of all seafoods.
We always try one new place each visit if we can, so Joe's crab shack for us to try next time.
Have fun trying some new places.
Mary
Dads_Taxi
17-01-2013, 15:17
Hi Garry,
we tried Sweet Tomatoes for the first time last year, and it was a hit with all 11 of us.
I gushed with enthusiasm in my report!!! : http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/showthread.php/55711-Dad-s-Taxi-s-Part-6-The-Day-I-Ate-Salad-!
If I said it was better than Cici's, I wouldn't be exaggerating ! :)
We visited Bahama Breeze in December and had a very good meal, sat outside and was entertained by live music. Will go again. There is a new one on the 192 but we went to the one near Premium Outlets.
PAUL GIZZI
17-01-2013, 17:18
I found beef o'bradys nice, and 2 for 1 on drinks :)
eagleydo
17-01-2013, 17:38
What about Cracker Barrell,
Chilis
Beef O Bradys
Houlihans
Sandra M
17-01-2013, 19:07
We go to Applebees a lot, they have a 2 for $20 menu whic is great and also 2 for 1 drinks all day every day [msnsmile] and it's just 2 minutes from our villa at Berry Town Centre so it's our local
Sandra
Beef O'Bradys - good burgers, 2 for 1 beer
Chilis - shiner bock ribs are melt in the mouth, chipotle chicken tenders are very good, 2 for 1 beer
Perkins - huge salads and entrees, gorgeous desserts and bottomless pots of coffee
All good value and lovely food.
Philomena
17-01-2013, 20:28
For something completely different try the Tiki Bar at Lake Minneola. They do a great burger, Bud at $1 a glass and the best sunsets. It is tucked away at the side of the Lake and frequented by locals. Fine dining it is not, but for a nice, relaxing afternoon or a laid back evening it is great. Straight up the 27, cross the 50, carry on a couple of miles north and turn left.
Gary I couldn't agree more with the restaurants never to eat at again, we tried sweet tomatoes in October past and ending up there twice on the same trip. Our favors are Olive Garden and Applebee's
E. Cosgrove
17-01-2013, 21:48
As well as some of the places you have mentioned we like to include a trip ( usually more than one!) to Carrabas and Bonefish Grill.
Bahama Breeze is one of my favorites, the food and cocktails are excellent, especially during Happy Hour. We also love the Jambalaya at Houllians - it's delicious.
For something totally different and as far from the beaten track as you can get, The Cherry Pocket is a great experience. It's a good drive away, in Lake Wales, but the food and atmosphere are great for a laid back, away from it all afternoon or evening. Hard to find, so you'd need a GPS or good directions. Don't expect fine dining and linen napkins though.
http://www.orlandovillarentals.com/orlando_guide/the-cherry-pocket-restaurant.aspx
I second Cherry Pocket, amazing place! We went last year and eventually found it tucked away in the forest, and it was packed! Had a great relaxing meal overlooking the lake and listening to the live music. Great to see some locals coming in via speedboat and even by plane landing on the lake.
steph_goodrum
18-01-2013, 06:16
Have you ever been to Disney's Boardalk? You follow the sign to the Boardwalk hotel and sho your passport at the entrance when they ask for id and tell them you are going to the boardwalk, they will show you where to park. Walking round there are several restaurants (you can get toSwan, Dolphin, Beach and Yacht Club hotels as well as the Boardwalk. They each have places to eat as well as the Boardwalk itself (which also has a huge ESPN sports bar. (Mind you the pulled pork sanwich from one of the stalls in the middle is good). You can relax on the sand for a while (in the evenings you can even watch a movie each night on the large outdoor screen. (Definitely in the winter not sure about summer).
caroline
18-01-2013, 08:36
We like Blue Zoo in the Dolphin hotel, Bahama Breeze is always a must on any trip, Villa de Flora in the Gaylord Palms Hotel is popular with our kids. Texas de Brazil on International Drive (register on their website before you go and make sure it's somebodies birthday or anniversary while you're there [msnwink] and you'll receive a discount voucher) Seasons 52 at Dr Phillips (just off Sandlake Road) - All this talk of food is making me realise I haven't had any breakfast yet!
Loving the replies!!!!
So Cherry Pocket and the Tiki Bar on Lake Minneola look fantastic but with a party of 10 including 6 kids, perhaps not the best places as they are small and maybe not suited to a big group. Hope i'm wrong.
We are not really massive fish lovers which is a shame as i love the look of the places mentioned, just perhaps not for us.
Sweet Tomatoes sounds interesting even though we are all meat lovers....definitely something different there and would like to try that.
Bahama Breeze is another one that looks a favourite, again something different to the usual steakhouses.
Yes been to the Boardwalk Steph, loved it there but didn't eat so perhaps this year if we get chance to go down there.
Thanks for all the replies and making me very hungry at 9:30am on a cold Friday morning in Leeds!!!!
abbeyvillas
18-01-2013, 16:11
Can recommend Bonefish Grill on the 192 - very good food. Also for something different, the French restaurant "Paris" at Champions Gate is good. It's not hard to spot if you're passing, it's around the end of the block from Publix.
Pam
Lynn2556
18-01-2013, 16:47
Try texas roadhouse in kissimmee
We go there when in florida its great does steaks chicken ect
Cant wait for our return and we only been home a week lol
Garry, if you want something a little out of the ordinary, and if you want to be treated like royalty, then try afternoon tea at the Ritz Carlton.
We did, and it was amazing - far better than the one at the Disney Floridian Hotel.
Very relaxing, fantastic service, and delicious food, in very comfortable surroundings.
They even do a Peter Rabbit tea for children.
mary and colin
18-01-2013, 21:39
Garry, if you want something a little out of the ordinary, and if you want to be treated like royalty, then try afternoon tea at the Ritz Carlton.
We did, and it was amazing - far better than the one at the Disney Floridian Hotel.
Very relaxing, fantastic service, and delicious food, in very comfortable surroundings.
They even do a Peter Rabbit tea for children.
Sounds lovely Ellie for something a bit different.
Will see if we can go sometime.
Did you need to dress up?
Mary
Philomena
19-01-2013, 11:22
Loving the replies!!!!
So Cherry Pocket and the Tiki Bar on Lake Minneola look fantastic but with a party of 10 including 6 kids, perhaps not the best places as they are small and maybe not suited to a big group. Hope i'm wrong.
I think it depends when you visit these places as to how busy you will find then. We go to the Tiki Bar mid-week and later in the afternoon when they have a steady flow but not rammed. There is also a beach between the Tiki Bar and the Lake for you to use.
I definately have Cherry Pocket on my list for my next visit - I love the 'off the beaten track' places as they are usually very interesting and you get lots of locals chating to you once they hear the English accent - although some of the places (and people) reminds me of Criminal Minds!!!!!
So Cherry Pocket and the Tiki Bar on Lake Minneola look fantastic but with a party of 10 including 6 kids, perhaps not the best places as they are small and maybe not suited to a big group. Hope i'm wrong.
There are tables inside the Cherry Pocket that can be pushed together for larger groups. Outside on the deck, there are a few central 'bench style' tables that can be pushed together for groups, so you should be fine. If you look at the pictures on the link above, the last photograph shows a large group using the tables pushed together - about 8 on each side in the photo, so you should be fine. Alternatively, you could get two tables next to each other, one for the kids and one for the adults. You may have to wait a little while for the bench tables, but there's plenty for the kids to explore while you wait or you can sit in the sun and have a drink.
If you like a good burger, don't forget Steak n Shake - and the shakes are terrific.
canarypam
21-01-2013, 18:58
Ssshhhhh don't tell everyone lol
For something completely different try the Tiki Bar at Lake Minneola. They do a great burger, Bud at $1 a glass and the best sunsets. It is tucked away at the side of the Lake and frequented by locals. Fine dining it is not, but for a nice, relaxing afternoon or a laid back evening it is great. Straight up the 27, cross the 50, carry on a couple of miles north and turn left.
rogerdunnaker
22-01-2013, 08:18
As most will know, we have been each year for the past 4 and tend to do the same things each time for dining out. We are going with our friends this year and thought we might like to try somewhere new (apart from Mannys)!!
We frequent:
Manny's (obviously)
Olive Garden
Cheesecake Factory
Outback
Longhorn's
Usual fast food - Johnny Rockets, Mc D's, Subway etc...
We have been but won't return to:
Cici's Pizza
Ponderosa (Don't ask!)
Charleys
Mortons
Denny's
So.....avoiding all the above, where is good? Excluding in the parks and excluding Downtown Disney.
Thanks in advance.
Logans
Sounds lovely Ellie for something a bit different.
Will see if we can go sometime.
Did you need to dress up?
Mary
Well, Mary, dress code is always fairly laid back in Florida, so I don't think there is any particular requirement, but I did wear a dress as I like any excuse to wear something a little less informal, but you definitely don't need ties for the men, or anything fancy for the ladies. It just seemed a nice occassion to dress up for.
If you get a chance, do try it.
I will try to upload some photos, but not having much success at the moment. Think they are too large, so must work out how to make them smaller. [msnembarrased]
mary and colin
22-01-2013, 20:12
Well, Mary, dress code is always fairly laid back in Florida, so I don't think there is any particular requirement, but I did wear a dress as I like any excuse to wear something a little less informal, but you definitely don't need ties for the men, or anything fancy for the ladies. It just seemed a nice occassion to dress up for.
If you get a chance, do try it.
I will try to upload some photos, but not having much success at the moment. Think they are too large, so must work out how to make them smaller. [msnembarrased]
Thanks Ellie i love to put a nicer dress on in Florida for a change, rather than a sundress or shorts (now that is a sight for sore eyes) :D and this sounds a great place to do so. I look forward to giving it a try.
Hope to see some photos soon
Mary
If you like ribs then Millers Ale house is good on a Monday evening for their ribs special, a full rack of baby back ribs, choice of potato and coleslaw for $10.99 (usual price $15.99) the pitchers of beer are really good value too. They have a different special every night but the ribs are our favourite.
A place not mentioned much but is on the 192 is ' carrabbas bar and grill',more expensive but the food is honestly top draw!
Chicken trio is the best thing on menu.
Also like logans steakhouse,and hoolahans.
The Loop :- BJ's Brewhouse or Mimi's Cafe for inexpensive food that's ok
Logan's / outback on 192 for Steak
Cracker Barrel for the Quaker experience & cute gift shop
Bahamas breeze good food & cocktails
Red Lobster
For 10 of you .... These are the only ones I'd recommend but PF Changs at Mall of Millenia would be a nice treat too :)
Also