Between the downtown area and the theme parks, Orlando boasts
hundreds of restaurants from which to choose. In fact, if you visit O-town
regularly, you may even feel as though every time you’re there, a new and amazing
restaurant is opening up. That’s probably because it is! 

Whether it is themed fun, budget-friendly, trendy or
celebrity-inspired, Orlando certainly offers dining options to match what you
are craving.

Trendy
Sometimes dining is more than sampling new-to-you dishes;
it’s about experiencing a different and fun atmosphere, and Orlando always promises
trendy new spots to try. One such place, the swanky and highly-anticipated
steakhouse, STK, recently opened at Disney
Springs. According to the Visit Orlando blog article “First
Look: STK Grand Opening at Disney Springs”, STK “offers a modern and
stylish dining experience … with two floors of seating and an outdoor terrace
overlooking the new Town Centre." 

Another trend is "plant-based dining,” and last fall Market on South opened their doors in
Orlando’s Milk District. This shared market space is currently the home to
Dixie Dharma, Valhalla Bakery and Humble Bumble Kombucha—all of which offer a
full plant-based dining and beverage menu. 

Family-Friendly
If you are seeking a memorable and fun eating experience,
Orlando sports plenty of family-friendly options. Certainly, there are many
options for dining with your favorite
characters—ranging from breakfast at Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary
Resort, to Universal’s Superstar Character Breakfast at Universal Studios
Florida.

For family-style
dining, where the food keeps coming until everyone is stuffed, check out Maggiano’s
Little Italy at Pointe Orlando or try a New England-style buffet at Cape May
Café at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. 

Several local venues allow visitors to grab a bite on a budget. From Cuban and
Vietnamese food to barbeque, pizza and more, there are plenty of places to eat
that won’t put a huge dent in your wallet. VisitOrlando.com’s article “Orlando
Dining: 15 Bites on a Budget” offers a varied list of ideas.

Themed
In addition to character dining, O-town features an
impressive collection of themed and fun restaurants. Dine with the dinosaurs at
T-REX Café at Disney Springs or get a tour of Indiana Jones’ barnstorming
pilot’s airplane hanger at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, also located at Disney
Springs.

Or you can dine among rock-star memorabilia at Hard Rock
Café Orlando, sports champions at NBC Sports Grill and Brew or at legendary
Miami Dolphin’s football coach Don Shula’s steakhouse, Shula’s. 

Fun
For something a little more dramatic, enjoy dinner and a
show at one of Orlando’s dinner-theaters: Capone’s Dinner & Show, Sleuths
Mystery Dinner Show or Hoop Dee Doo Revue—one of the longest running dinner
shows in the United States. 

Another interesting option is Kings Orlando, located on
International Drive. There, you can bowl a few games while enjoying a full menu
of scrumptious choices, including salads, sea scallops, wraps, pizza, burgers
and baby back ribs. 

Notable
Orlando has attracted many celebrity chefs to the
restaurant scene. Here are just a few of the many notable chefs you can find around
town:

• Universal Orlando offers two Emeril Lagasse restaurants-Emeril’s
  Orlando and Emeril’s Tchoup Chop.
• Disney Springs is home to Wolfgang Puck Grand
  Café.
• The Ritz-Carlton Orlando features Norman’s, by Norman
  Van Aken.
• Disney’s Dolphin Resort features Todd English’s
  BlueZoo.

No matter what you are craving, Orlando has something for
you. In fact, you may find you’ll run out of time before you run out restaurants you’d like to try.
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