Orlando Restaurants

It should come as no surprise that Orlando has something for everybody when it comes to pleasing your palate, ranging from fast food to five-star restaurants and everything in between. The city overflows with more than 5,000 dining options, though it’s usually noted for its many theme and chain restaurants. The arrival of the Mouse in Orlando launched an invasion of the area by fast-food joints, mostly in response to the number of families now flocking to see Mickey. Theme restaurants, focusing on everything from race cars and rainforests to superheroes and sporting goods, weren’t far behind.

The local dining scene doesn’t compare to that found in such metropolitan foodie hot spots as New York, San Francisco, or Las Vegas, but there are certainly more than a few places here that could easily hold their own against the competition (disbelievers can grab a chair at Emeril’s at CityWalk, Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, or Norman’s at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes, among others). That said, keep in mind that Orlando is the undisputed king of U.S. family destinations, and restaurants generally do their darnedest to cater to their target audience.

As so many of Central Florida visitors spend the biggest chunk of their time at Disney, a good deal of this chapter deals with the restaurants at Disney. For those of you who find yourselves beyond the boundaries of Mickey’s doorstep, there’s no need to worry: I also cover what’s cooking at Universal Orlando’s best restaurants, the hottest dining spots on International Drive, and a fair share of other area dining rooms.

Note to parents: Keep in mind that most moderate to inexpensive restaurants have kids’ menus ($4-$9), and many offer distractions, such as coloring books and crayons, in the hopes it will keep your little ones otherwise occupied until their dinner arrives. If you go to a place catering to children, expect the noise level to be high. They don’t take a vacation from squeals of joy or fits of temper, so you shouldn’t expect to either. On the plus side, if it’s your kids who tend to turn up the volume, it’s far more likely that their antics will go unnoticed when there are others around doing the very same things.

If dining with kids isn’t your cup of tea, steer clear of any restaurant where Mickey and Minnie stop by to say “hi” during the meal. Character meals, no matter what restaurant they are in, are guaranteed to be filled with families, making them, at times, excruciatingly loud and almost unnerving to those not used to dining in a room full of children. As a general rule, the more expensive your meal, the less likely you’ll be dining with a lot of little ones around. So if you prefer to dine in peace — and can afford it — consider a meal at some of the more expensive restaurants in the resorts, on International Drive, or around Orlando proper. Tip: Parents in need of a night off from the kids can arrange for in-room babysitting or supervised child care so they too can indulge in one of the area’s finer dining options.

For additional online information about area restaurants, visit www.orlandoinfo.com, www.go2orlando.com, or the websites in the listings that follow.

Self-Service Suppers — If you’re on a tight budget and your room has a kitchen or a spot to sit and grab a bite, consider dining in a night or two and saving a few bucks. Area grocers, many with delis that turn out ready-to-eat treats, include Albertson’s near I-Drive (7524 Dr. Phillips Blvd., tel. 407/352-1552; www.albertsons.com), and Gooding’s in Lake Buena Vista (Crossroads Shopping Plaza, 12521 Hwy. 535/Apopka-Vineland Ave.; tel. 407/827-1200; www.goodings.com) and along I-Drive (8255 I-Drive; tel. 407/352-4215). You can find more options in the Orlando Yellow Pages under “Grocers.”

Room Service — For those of you who would rather take a break from eating out, there are several Orlando restaurants that are more than willing to come to you. A local delivery service, “Take Out Express,” will deliver takeout from a number of area restaurants (even more than one at a time for an extra charge) right to your hotel room. The delivery cost is $5 per restaurant with a minimum food order of $15 per restaurant. Call tel. 407/352-1170 for details or to order.

Not Just Fries Anymore

Some of you may not be able to go your entire vacation without a trip to McDonald’s for a Big Mac. If you just can’t pass up a trip to Mickie D’s for a fast-food fix, the good news is that Orlando has a handful of uniquely themed McDonald’s unlike any you’ll find in your neighborhood. All of them sport unique and eclectic menus, which, in addition to the usual fare, add (among other items) pizzas, portobello eggplant, turkey wraps, panini, and crème brûlée cheesecake.

The 24-hour McDonald’s European Café, 7344 Sand Lake Road, Orlando (tel. 407/264-0776), boasts two levels with plenty of glass to allow sunlight to pour in. You won’t mistake it for a European cafe (it’s still a McDonald’s, so don’t get too carried away), but neat features include a pool table and arcade games on the second level, and fabulous views of the sand lakes.

The Ancient Ruins branch, located at 5401 Altamira Dr. (tel. 407/345-9477), is themed (wonder of wonders) to the ancient ruins of Greece, complete with broken columns, stone walls, and frieze-style moldings.

Moving on to Africa, the Club Safari location, 2944 S. Kirkman Rd. (tel. 407/296-6265), boasts an African Safari theme complete with rich wooden fixtures, African masks and artwork, crystal chandeliers, and animal prints galore. Animatronic toucan and Tiki figures sing jungle jingles, and you can’t help but take note of the 13-foot bronze giraffe and two bronze tigers keeping watch.

Chrome shines everywhere you turn at the Motorcycle McDonald’s, 5400 S. Kirkman Rd. (tel. 407/352-1526). Tail pipes, shocks, and various other bike parts adorn the restaurant’s walls.

Finally, the world’s largest McDonald’s can also be found in Orlando, right on 6875 Sand Lake Rd. (tel. 407/351-2185). The location boasts a huge tubular maze with 25,000 feet of twists, turns, sliding, crawling, and jumping space for kids to play in. Another unique feature: You can book hotels, transportation, buy attraction tickets, and get daily park information, all while enjoying your fries and a Coke (or, in this case, maybe a gourmet coffee).