Top Restaurants in Orlando & Vicinity

Gloria M.   -   Miller’s Ale House Has Lots of Raving Fans We attempted to dine at the Kissimmee location a few weeks ago but the wait was one hour and a half. Ther ... more

Gloria M.   -   Miller’s Ale House Has Lots of Raving Fans We attempted to dine at the Kissimmee location a few weeks ago but the wait was one hour and a half. There was a special going on for lobster or, perhaps it was just a busy week. With lots of tourists in town. We decided to dine elsewhere. This is our second visit to this particular restaurant and we had a good experience. The restaurant is near the Orange County Convention Center. There is a complimentary parking lot just behind the restaurant so we parked there. We arrived at 5:30 and noticed that there were plenty of empty seats in the large outside patio. We, however, decided to dine inside since it was very warm that evening. There was a great daily special for Monday - 1 1/4 lbs. Full Rack of Baby Back Ribs, $10.99. Each day has a different deal. Tuesday is Kids Eat Free and there are specials on a Prime Rib Dinner or 12 oz. Choice Rib eye, $12.95. Wednesday has a 1 ¼ Lb. Live Maine Lobster on special. Thursday the special is a Choice 12 oz. Prime Rib for $12.95. Friday is Cajun Seared Sashimi Tuna Pasta, $14.95. Saturday is Baked Seafood Sampler, $14.95. Sunday is Shanghai Tacos, $10.95. Be aware that menu prices may vary by location. Instead of the Monday Special, we each decided on the Steak Fajita, $11.95. The dinner came with a generous amount of thickly sliced Choice Flat Iron Steak cooked exactly as ordered, smothered in Onions & Peppers. On a separate plate, were Shredded Lettuce, Pico de Gallo, Cheddar Cheese and a generous dollop of Sour Cream. A covered container held three large warm tortillas. Although we really enjoyed the sizzling hot meal, we both wished there were more peppers in it as the picture on the menu showed. Instead, the few peppers on the dish were pretty skimpy and limp. Nonetheless, we were happy with our choice. The steak was very tender and moist. I was sorry that I was too full to order the Capt’n Jack’s Buried Treasure Dessert, which is an ice cream cake with Oreo Cookie Crust, Caramel, Chocolate Fudge & Heath Bar Crunch for $5.95. It comes with a dollop of whipped cream topped with a cherry. Doesn’t that sound decadent? Oh my! I have to try this sometime! There are plenty of appetizers on the menu if you are just looking for a light meal. Zingers are boneless chicken wings and you can get them several ways: plain, over melted cheese or piled over fries with melted cheeses, bacon bits & Scallions. Alternatively, have them in a Quesadilla or Tacos, $8.99-$10.99. Regular wings are on the menu too along with other favorites like Buffalo Shrimp, Fried Mozzarella, Onion Rings, Loaded Fries, Nachos and Fried Calamari. What I appreciate is that the Special Sauces come Mild, Medium, and Hot along with nine other choices - something for every taste palate. Appetizers are priced from $6.95 for Chips and Dip to $10.99 for the Ale House Combo: nine Potato Skins, Fried Mushrooms, Fried Mozzarella and Spinach Dip served with tri-Colored Tortilla Chips & Salsa. Looking for even lighter fare, there are 5 soups and 10 salads on the menu. I liked the Apple Walnut that you ca n add chicken or steak to for $3 more. Naturally, there are Burgers (you can even build your own) and 10 Sandwiches, too. There are four kinds of Steaks or have the Flat Iron Steak with Boom Boom Shrimp for $14.95 or add Surf & Turf to any steak for $8.95. Seafood Choices, Pastas and House Specialties, round out the menu. If you wish Gluten Free or Vegetarian dishes, menus are available upon request. I am sure that almost everyone can find something here to eat. While we waited for our foods, I checked out the décor. There is lots of wood on the high ceilings, the walls, the booths and tables. Multiple flat TV screens all around the restaurant tune in to different sporting events. Lots of sports photos and memorabilia complete the décor along with some fish wall hangings. As a Yankee fan, I took a closer look seeing Derek Jeter’s jersey encased on one wall. Brass railings and a large bar add to the tavern ambiance. Hector, our waiter, was attentive throughout the meal and filled all our requests in a timely manner. At the end of the meal, he confided that he was a new staff member. I would not have guessed since he did such a terrific job. He asked us to fill out an online survey that would help him with his employment. Of course, I agreed since he tried so hard to please us. I did complete the survey the next day and mentioned how pleased I was with his service. Back in 1988, Jack & Claire Miller opened the original Miller’s Ale House in Jupiter, FL They must be doing something right because the chain has now expanded to 50 locations in Florida and into eight other states as well - NY (3), PA, (4) NJ (2), GA, IL, MD, NA. Unfortunately, Orlando is the closet to where I live and it is an hour away. I would definitely dine at any Miller’s Ale House if I travel near one. I like their extensive and varied menu. The food is very good and the staff is very friendly. I think that this is a great place to kick back and watch a game with friends or just hang out on the patio. It has a fun atmosphere. Join their E Club and become a Raving Fan for special offers, coupons, promotions and surprises for your birthday. less

xpertcritic   -   This was one of the few places in WDW where we didn\\\'t need a far ahead reservation, but we reserved a table for 7, 4 adults and 3 kids (7, 9, and 1 ... more

xpertcritic   -   This was one of the few places in WDW where we didn\\\'t need a far ahead reservation, but we reserved a table for 7, 4 adults and 3 kids (7, 9, and 10). The wait staff was pleasant, in their early americal costumes, but I felt the food was average at best. They serve it family style, not individual plates--turkey, pot roast, macaroni and cheese, cornbread stuffing, etc. Maybe some people like to be served like this, but when dinner here costs me $200+ I want my own plate of food. The memorable event was when one of my adult of my guests, and her 7 yr old daughter got their food. We told the server they were gluten intolerant, and I had some food allergies. When the food arrived, my gluten intolerant guest got started eating, along with the rest of us, and she started getting ill. What we discovered was shocking. The silverware she was using was contaminated with gluten residue on it. Not noticing it, she began eating her dinner, and by the time it was discovered it was too late. We brought it to the attention of our server, and she called management. They simply said they were sorry. Obviously my friend was not able to eat and enjoy her meal, and I felt at the very least they should have comped her meal, as well as made sure she was cared for medically, but nothing was extended. I realize mistakes happen, but if and when it does, the guest should be compensated and assured that they care. Shame on Disney for not stepping up. less

xpertcritic   -   This was the 1st time I have eaten at Disney\\\'s Brown Derby and from the looks of the place you\\\'d expect great food and service. I felt they have ... more

xpertcritic   -   This was the 1st time I have eaten at Disney\\\'s Brown Derby and from the looks of the place you\\\'d expect great food and service. I felt they have become complacent, because the service here was awful! Our reservation was for 4, 2 adults and 2 kids (9 & 10). We ordered filet mignon all around, and I have to say that it was fantastic!. So was the ambiance! Our server, however, an older mexican man, was nice when it came to taking our orders, but the food was served by someone else, and we never did see our server again. With kids, accidents happen, and when our grandson dropped his fork we need a replacement. I tried to get our server\\\'s attention a few times, but that didn\\\'t work out. I finally gave up and gave my grandson a fork from another table. It\\\'s not that he was busy, he wasn\\\'t. He never even came to refresh the kids drinks, or ask if I wanted another glass of wine. When it came time for taking our dessert order he was there in an instant, but by that time my wife was disgusted with him, so I simply asked for the check. I put my disney credit card down to pay, and my wife put a penny down on top (she had never ever done that before so I know she was disgusted), and she wrote a note to the server regarding his bad service. When you get an older experienced server, you can usually expect it to be spot on service. It just wasn\\\'t there. I don\\\'t blame the server alone, shame on disney for allowing this complacency! The food is good, so I would return if I ever come to WDW again, but I will tell the lead person in management of this experience so disney can have the opportunity to correct it. less

Shelby_Pickett   -   Les Chefs De France is a nice break to the traditional offerings of table service restaurants in Disney parks. I have visited this particular restaura ... more

Shelby_Pickett   -   Les Chefs De France is a nice break to the traditional offerings of table service restaurants in Disney parks. I have visited this particular restaurant multiple times a month for a number of years and have yet to have a sub par experience. Although it is located in a theme park, you should not go in looking for a \\\"theme park casual\\\" dining experience. The staff tends to be consistently rude \\\"they are French after all\\\", and the managers will make no bones about coming over to your table telling you to remove your hat or cover up your tank top. I have personally seen this happen on numerous occasions. As for the food, I can hardly find a thing on their menu I do not enjoy. The onion soup is the perfect way to start off the meal followed by a roasted half chicken with fingerling potatoes. Top it all off with fresh creme brûlée and you have an outstanding meal. A bit on the pricey side for what you get, but well worth it in the end. less

dev_23   -   The food here is so amazing! Everything is fresh and full of flavor. The decor is beautiful and the service was friendly. I didn't know what to order ... more

dev_23   -   The food here is so amazing! Everything is fresh and full of flavor. The decor is beautiful and the service was friendly. I didn't know what to order at first, but the server helped me pick the most popular dishes and I can see why they are popular. I had summer rolls to start and the vermicelli noodle bowl with grilled chicken. Lac Viet's fish sauce is one of the best I've ever tasted. My husband and I had such a wonderful meal at such a low price! I will definitely be back! The only negative thing that I really have to say is that although the restaurant wasn't very busy it was very weird and unprofessional that the employees were sleeping and playing games at their break table. I could see other customers staring and pointing at them but they did not care. Even as I went to pay my bill, they didn't get up to say goodbye. Food great, my service was great- overall a good experience. less

Ztaste   -   The food here is ok, not great. The gyro salad is nothing to die for. The place is ok in the area of College Park. While having lunch we had a few fli ... more

Ztaste   -   The food here is ok, not great. The gyro salad is nothing to die for. The place is ok in the area of College Park. While having lunch we had a few flies going all over. less

Sunshine_Soul   -   If you think you've lost your place to get traditional oxtails, seasoned collard greens, creamy macaroni and cheese, peach cobbler, lemon cake and mor ... more

Sunshine_Soul   -   If you think you've lost your place to get traditional oxtails, seasoned collard greens, creamy macaroni and cheese, peach cobbler, lemon cake and more, well look no further than Sunshine Soulfood Cafe. Stop by and see us 7 days a week for lunch and dinner specials. You wont be disappointed! less

Gloria M.   -   Merritt Island Carrabba’s Italian Grill - Where Every Meal is a Celebration Carrabba’s, less than 8 miles from my home, is one of my favorite loca ... more

Gloria M.   -   Merritt Island Carrabba’s Italian Grill - Where Every Meal is a Celebration Carrabba’s, less than 8 miles from my home, is one of my favorite local restaurant. Not only is the food consistently good here but the friendly manager, Stacey, the wait staff, chefs, bartenders & hostesses will make this eatery become your favorite, too. I’ve been dining here regularly since is opened many years ago. There are so many choices on the menu. Our favorite Antipasti is Cozze in Bianco, $9. It is steamed Mussels in a delicate white wine, basil, lemon butter sauce-simply delicious. My two sisters don’t even like mussels but they freely dip their bread into this sauce. We found the recipe on the Internet & make it ourselves at home, sh-sh-sh, it‘s our little secret. We order the large size as an entrée sometimes. My other favorite is Calamari with Marinara Sauce, $7.90. If you like spicy, order it with Spicy Italian Peppers & Lemon Butter sauce. There are 6 other appetizers to try or order the Antipasti Plate and sample three together. There are homemade soups and several salad choices, too under the Cucina Casuale selections. Entrée selections are too numerous to list. There are wood-fired Pizzas (or build your own) and Paninis which for some reason I have never tried. The 13 Pasta Dishes are served with soup or salad. My favorite is Pasta Weesie, $15.70 - Fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp sautéed in a garlic, lemon butter white wine sauce with sautéed mushrooms & scallions. I like it serve al denti. My husband likes the Pasta Sostanza which can also be served with chicken or shrimp. If I’m ordering from the Wood-Burning Grill selections (8) as I did on this visit, it is usually Pollo Rossa Maria- chicken stuffed with fontina & prosciutto, topped with mushrooms & a basil lemon butter sauce. This is a Carrabba’s Favorite, by the way. My husband and son love the Marsala selections (4) -Sirloin , $16.90 or Pork Chops, 16.50 especially. When I can’t make up my mind, I’ll order from the Classics & Combination (5.) When I skip an appetizer, I will order the Chicken Trio - Bryan (another Carrabba‘s Favorite), Marsala & Rosa Maria, $19.50. There are several seafood choices, grilled Salmon, Tilapia or Spiedino Di Mare (shrimp, scallops or both) and ribs, veal, steak, too. Grill, Marsala & Combination selections are served with homemade soup or salad & a choice of mashed potatoes, vegetable or the delicious Cavatappi Amatriciana, which I love & always order. My favorite Side Salad is the Italian one, served chilled on a chilled plate with lots of delicious olives, tomatoes, onions & carrots on mixed greens. The warm bread served with meals and the special herbs & EVOL served along with it is wonderful. We always request a second helping of it. On rare occasions, I’ll order from the dessert, Dolci menu (6) usually when I have a coupon. Tiramisu or Cannoli are my favorites. Very popular are the mini-desserts made fresh daily for only $2.50 each. Bring the Kids here. The Bambini Menu for Kids 10 & Under, beverage included is: Grilled Chicken Breast, Spaghetti & Meatball, Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza, Cheese Ravioli & Tomato Sauce, Chicken Fingers & Bambini Sundae. Although the restaurant is always busy, just call ahead & let them know you are on your way and how many are in your party. They will add your name to the list and save you waiting time. Carrabba’s has some unique offerings & one is Wine Wednesday (every Wednesday) - get $10 off any bottle of wine, $5 for a glass of Sangria and $10 off pitchers. They also have a daily Happy Hour up ‘til 7PM. Join the Amici Club (complementary) and get cooking tips, special offers for complementary menu items, “By Invitation Only” events and other benefits. We used a coupon for $10 off any entree with the purchase of an entrée for this visit. The Internet coupons (3) come out twice a year when you join the Amici Club. Come back another time for a free pasta dish with the purchase of another entrée or receive a free dessert or appetizer with an entrée purchase. Buy a Personal Gift Card and design it yourself using your favorite photo & add you own personal message. It makes giving a gift card pretty neat. It arrives with a personalized Greeting Card, too & it costs $4.50 above the gift card value. The ambiance of this location is lovely and inviting. Everyone is so welcoming and tries to please. It is fun to sit by or nearby the open kitchen & watch the chefs working their masterpieces. The bar is very popular & busy. We often order Take-Out from this location. Order Online, park in the designated Take-Out parking area & have it delivered right to you car door. Or, dine alfresco at this location. Some locations but not this one yet, allow you to make an online reservation. Contact information for the restaurant located at 60 Palmetto Ave. Merritt Island, FL 32953 is (321) 453-7045. Visit the Website at www.carrabbas.com/ for local daily specials, ordering online or new menu items. Other nearby locations to this one are in Melbourne & Palm Bay. Hours are: Mon -Thursday: 4:00 PM-10:00 PM, Fri: 4:00 PM-11:00 PM, Sat: 12:00 PM-11:00 PM, Sun: 11:00 AM- 9:00 PM. Be sure to tell Stacey the manager that I sent you. She’ll treat you like family. less

Gloria M.   -   Amici Restaurant - Your Home Away From Home One Monday night, we headed down to Melbourne to dine at Amici’s Italian Restaurant. Amici is Italian fo ... more

Gloria M.   -   Amici Restaurant - Your Home Away From Home One Monday night, we headed down to Melbourne to dine at Amici’s Italian Restaurant. Amici is Italian for friends & you will feel right at home in the family-owned & operated restaurant. We had a bit of trouble locating the restaurant hidden in a back mall off Wickham Rd. even using our GPS. It was well past 6:30 when we arrived. There was a wait which surprised us as it was a Monday night. Next time we will be sure to call for a reservation. It was fun watching the hand-tossed, fire-roasted pizzas coming out of the ovens located at the front of the restaurant to the left of the reception desk. After 20 minutes, we were shown to a large, comfortable booth. It was just barely within the Happy Hour parameters so we each ordered wine. Delicious, warm bread arrived fairly quickly along with oil and herbs - good thing as we were really hungry by then. We had a coupon from Living Social for $20 of food for $10 so we figured we could order whatever our hearts desired. We introduced ourselves to Valentina, the chef/owner’s wife who was very personable. She is from Yugoslavia. Despite a crowded restaurant, she made the time to chat with us for several minutes. Chef David Dashi came out from his kitchen to greet us later. He is from Trieste, Italy, moved to NY when he was 16, then worked in a restaurant in the Italian section of the Bronx - Arthur Ave. My husband grew up in this area & they had a lot to talk about. He later opened a restaurant called Amici’s Family Restaurant & Pizzeria Route 59 in Nyack, NY (it is still there) eventually moving to FL & opened one here- Amici‘s Italian Restaurant. We are glad that they did. We spent some time perusing the menu. The are 14 items listed under Antipasti - many are typical ones you’d expect in an Italian restaurant such as Bruschetta ($7.95,) Mozzarella Sticks ($6.95,) Roasted Peppers & Fresh Mozzarella ($9.95,) Cold Antipasto ($9.95,) & Zucchini Sticks ($6.95.) If you enjoy seafood there is Clams Oreganato ($8.95,) Clams Posillippo ($9.95,) Shrimp Cocktail ($10.75) and Fried Calamari ($9.95.) I was very tempted by the Appetizer ala Amici which is a big plate of Shrimp, Eggplant Rollatini, Clams, Mussels & Stuffed Mushrooms. I was hungry enough to eat it before I started on the delicious bread. Diners at the large table next to us ordered the Cold Antipasto ($8.95) & it looked fresh, delightfully arranged and visually appealing. My husband wants to order the Mussels next time. It comes as Marinara, Fra Diavolo or Bianca (which is what he likes. ) We’ll have to return for lunch some day soon. Entrees run around $9-$21.95 on the regular Menu. There is something here in every price range. With close to 35 selections, it was difficult to made a choice. On the Specials Menu (5 Entrees) only one Entrée was priced higher - Angus Steak for $23.95. My husband finally decided on the Veal Saltimbocca & I ordered Veal Amici. Both our meals were huge & we each took half home with us. Our entrées included Soup or Salad & Pasta or substitute Vegetables for $2.95. My husband & I both requested a salad with our meal. His was nicely chilled with Italian Dressing; mine was served with Blue Cheese Dressing. The olives perked up the flavor of the variety of greens & cucumbers; the cherry tomatoes & carrots brought color to the large portion. My main dish consisted of 2 good -sized pieces of Veal sautéed in a Sherry Wine Sauce topped with Prosciutto and Eggplant, then layered with Ham & Mozzarella. It was served over a generous portion of Spaghetti. The dish was very delicately prepared, simply delicious and brought to the table piping hot. The spaghetti was cooked exactly right. The Veal Saltibocca was similarly prepared - Veal topped with Proscuitto, Mushrooms & Mozzarella, sautéed with Sherry Sauce, served over Spaghetti. My husband enjoyed his meal immensely. If you like Grilled Salmon, $20.95 & it is on the Specials Menu consider ordering it as it came highly recommended by fellow diners. There is a selection of 5 meals per Bambini: Ravioli, Chicken Fingers with French Fries, Baked Ziti, Fettuccine Alfredo and a variety of pastas & sauces (meatball, too) all priced at a reasonable $5.95-$6.95. Everything is cooked -to-order so expect to wait for your meal to arrive. Our waiter, Tyler, stopped by several times to ask if we needed anything & replenished our water glasses as needed. Although this was our first visit, many others seemed to know one another & the wait staff. The place attracts locals & regulars. Some stopped to chat with the wait staff or owner before or after eating. Considering how busy the restaurant was, the service was friendly and not rushed. The restaurant is located in a small shopping center along with a couple of insurance offices, a quilting store and a Martini Bar among other stores. There is plenty of parking available. The inside of the restaurant is nicely appointed with lovely tiled floors, interesting framed art and high dark ceilings with fan. You almost feel that you are back in Italy. There is a very inviting bar where you can sit while waiting for your table to be readied. It was busy the night we dined here. Chairs are thoughtfully provided in front of the reception desk and a bench is outside. I checked out the second room of the restaurant which is used on Friday & Saturday nights and it too has its own bar. It would be great for a private party. Be sure to visit the bakery/deli which has its own entrance or can be reached from the restaurant. There are so many delectable pastries & cookies to choose from that it was hard to make our selections. The wait staff comes around with a platter filled with tempting desserts after you dinner is finished. The restaurant does a busy Take-Out business & we did take home a Calzone to try. The Restaurant is located at 7720 North Wickham Road # 120 Melbourne, FL 32940 (321) 255-5377. Hours are: Monday-Thursday, 11 AM to 10 PM, Friday & Saturday, 11AM- 11PM & Sunday 4PM-9PM. Visit the Website www.amicis-suntree.com for special events or more information. How we missed trying this delightful restaurant, I don’t know but we are glad that we found it now. We hope to become one of the friendly locals. less