I was in Orlando a couple of months ago, and while my meals were generally average or bad (really, really bad at Bice), I enjoyed a particularly good meal at Cedars, a Middle Eastern restaurant. It's been a while so I cannot recall in particular what we ordered but my group was universally pleased with the quality of both the food and service. It's more upscale than your usual Middle Eastern restaurant, but certainly child friendly and there is a good size outdoor patio.

thank you, I will search for them online.

I have about 25 menus now, and have a pretty good idea of places we will try, but I am always looking for some late additions to the tentative list.

Luckily we only have to spend one day eating Disney food so the rest of the time will be out expoloring the area.

I have found some area Fish Camps for the alligator, and frog legs I crave, as well as about a half dozen steakhouses that have prime beef. I also have a couple raw bars for oysters, clams, and stone crab claws in mind. Also a visit to one of the buffets that offers both all you can eat lobsters, and crab legs is a definite(mmm cold beer, and shellfish).

Sorry . . . I meant to post a link: http://www.cedarsoforlando.com/

BR wrote:Sorry . . . I meant to post a link: http://www.cedarsoforlando.com/

thanks, saves me some searching.

Two words....Dixie Crossroads!

Going down for 3 days in Feb...will eat here every day....Rock Shrimp in the shell, split open like little lobster tails....un....bee...lievable.

Simple, not fancy...but been dreaming about this place for 6 years...

In Titusville....but well worth the 40 mile drive from Orlando....

www.dixiecrossroads.com

ParkLaBrea wrote:Two words....Dixie Crossroads!

Going down for 3 days in Feb...will eat here every day....Rock Shrimp in the shell, split open like little lobster tails....un....bee...lievable.

Simple, not fancy...but been dreaming about this place for 6 years...

In Titusville....but well worth the 40 mile drive from Orlando....

http://www.dixiecrossroads.com

thats what I am talking about.. thanks alot..

You bet....great for kids, but beer and margaritas flow freely too....nice mix of young, old (sometimes very old in the afternoon), and everywhere in between...and count on a line (though they bring out these amazing sugar-dusted corn fritters for free to help pass the time....and you can bring cocktails outside)

I'm pretty sure the Rock Shrimp is in season in Feb. when we're going (as this is the time of year I've been before)..but I'd call ahead for the June timeframe if you are looking at trying these beauties....

Either way, the regular jumbo shrimp may be the best I've ever had....it's just that those rock shrimp are sublime (check out the photos on the site)...

ParkLaBrea wrote:You bet....great for kids, but beer and margaritas flow freely too....nice mix of young, old (sometimes very old in the afternoon), and everywhere in between...and count on a line (though they bring out these amazing sugar-dusted corn fritters for free to help pass the time....and you can bring cocktails outside)

I'm pretty sure the Rock Shrimp is in season in Feb. when we're going (as this is the time of year I've been before)..but I'd call ahead for the June timeframe if you are looking at trying these beauties....

Either way, the regular jumbo shrimp may be the best I've ever had....it's just that those rock shrimp are sublime (check out the photos on the site)...

Menu is already printed..., from the looks of Dixie Crossing it looks like my type of place, laid back. thanks again.

ParkLaBrea wrote:In Titusville....but well worth the 40 mile drive from Orlando....

Titusville is very close to Cape Canaveral, which is well worth a trip especially with the kids!

stevez wrote:

ParkLaBrea wrote:In Titusville....but well worth the 40 mile drive from Orlando....

Titusville is very close to Cape Canaveral, which is well worth a trip especially with the kids!

I agree, 40 miles is nothing when you drive about 900 miles a week like I do here in Chicagoland.

We are planning a day trip out to the Atlantic coast(Cocoa Beach/Merrit Island perhaps) for one of the days(can't go to Florida, and not go to the ocean), so this Titusville stop is in the cards for sure.

ParkLaBrea wrote:Two words....Dixie Crossroads!

Going down for 3 days in Feb...will eat here every day....Rock Shrimp in the shell, split open like little lobster tails....un....bee...lievable.

Simple, not fancy...but been dreaming about this place for 6 years...

In Titusville....but well worth the 40 mile drive from Orlando....

http://www.dixiecrossroads.com

I think I've been to this place, and the one major disappointment was lack of butter. Not on the rolls, and I think even the drawn "butter" for the rock shrimp was margarine.

jimswside wrote:Luckily we only have to spend one day eating Disney food so the rest of the time will be out expoloring the area.

Jim,

Fellow on a BBQ listserv I follow just mentioned Peebles BBQ in Auburndale, about 25-miles from Orlando. From his post it sounds like Peebles is cooking similar to Honey 1/Lem's/Uncle John's, "Their Ribs are cooked direct quick about 2ft off the coals.".

If I was in the Orlando area I'd give Peebles BBQ a go, but no guarantees as to his (listserv poster) accuracy. I also saw the Ravenous Pig mention in Saveur, sounds interesting.

Enjoy,
Gary

Peebles Barbecue
503 Dixie Hwy
Auburndale, FL 33823
863-967-3085
Thursday/Friday/Saturday
11am - 9pm

Thanks Gary, added to my list.

On our way down, and on the way back, some bbq in Georgia, and Tennessee for lunches, dinner, or just a snack are in the cards.

I'm on biz alone in Orlando, no car, in the Downtown Disney area. Too many chains... but the concierge recommended Dakshin, an Indian place, at the "end of the road," just outside the Downtown Disney gateway at Hotel Plaza Blvd and SR535.

Dakshin
12541 State Road 535
Orlando, FL 32836
(407) 827-9080‎

It's a little place jammed between a TGIFridays and a Fuddruckers, with a tiny sign, easy to miss.

The food is southern Indian, from Bombay to Goa, with some Tamil and other stuff. I said to the waiter that I was disappointed they don't have dosas, and he said they serve them in the mornings.

They brought the usual-looking chapatis, but very light, and two chutneys: the tamarind was a little thin and bland, but the coconut/cilantro very tasty with the coconut balancing sharp onions and cilantro, outstanding. They also brought an "amuse" of a nice spicy broth in a small metal cup which was very tasty.

I ordered the samosas which were a bit disappointing: $5.95 for three triangles that were more like phyllo wrapping than the usual pastry dough. Tasty enough, but the price is pretty high.

The entrees run $14-$27 -- high for Devon but moderate for Disney-area. Shrimp Madras was $17.95 -- a decent-sized bowl of brick-red sauce with lots of ginger, a decent number of shrimp and one big hunk of tomato that I'm not sure why it was there. Delicious. When they ask you "moderate or spicy" remember to ask "very spicy" or even "3 V's" if you want it native hot. I ordered "spicy" not knowing the rules, and got something merely somewhat spicy but very flavorful.

I also ordered a garlic calicot parota (Calcutta Paratha), $3, very good, but rice would have been a better choice with something that saucy.

Lastly I overindulged on pistacio ice cream: very dense, a lot of the volume was nut meal. Extremely rich and flavorful house-made ice cream, they could probably cut down on the green food coloring though. I think it was $6.95 -- I might not have ordered it if I knew how much it was, but it was worth it -- a decent-sized serving and outstanding stuff.

Local hotels may have a 10%-off coupon for $30 and up, and it's not hard to break that $30 mark. They could use the business -- only two tables occupied and one carry-out while I was there.

We are just back from 7 nights at WDW on property and on the Disney Dining Plan. (1 table service, 1 counter service and 1 snack per day)

We stayed at the Coronado Springs Resort, we didn't rent a car and ate solely on property or Downtown Disney.

Results - some good and some bad.

Good: Rotisserie Chicken at Cosmic Ray's in the Magic Kingdom - served with decent mashed potatoes.
Pastrami Smoked Salmon at Crystal Palace buffet at Magic Kingdom - I ate way too much of this - it was amazingly good. Who knew brunch with Pooh Bear could taste good. Also - Mickey Waffles are frshly made and decent malted waffles everywhere we had them.
Vegetable Risotto with Sea Scallops at Narcoosee's at the Grand Floridian - this is Disney "Signature Dining" and everything was freshly made and well cooked. The Pecan Tart with Sabayon ice cream was also outstanding here. Perfectly toasted pecans in a butter pastry tart with rich boozy ice cream. All with a view of the fireworks over the MK and a bottle of reasonably priced sparkling wine. (My crab crusted flounder and the husband's "key lime creme brulee" were misses though)
Wolfgang Puck Express at downtown disney - Fresh sandwiches - The pesto chicken salad was not bad.
Raglan Road at Downtown Disney - Great Mac and Cheese. Real Chicken Strips (Not gourmet - but I'll take real meat frehsly cooked). A good Portobello Mushroom Sandwich. Great Beer selection and music.
Rose and Crown (UK) at Epcot - I had the Steak and Fish combo - Great beer battered fish and a well cooked steak, haricot verts and perfect mashed redskins. All with a view of the Epcot fireworks on the lake. And well poured pints.

Bad: The Pepper Market at Coronado Springs - ungh. Yes it's mostly fresh, but it's high school cafeteria food. The Tiramisu was ok here though.
TREX fish tacos - gross and dry
Akershus (Norway) at Epcot - the cold bar was ok, the desserts was inedible (A cold coconut toped custard donut? ick) And the pasta was not as described. I got overcooked Mickey ravioli - ick)
We ate alot of mediocre food that I won't highlight.

Pretty much have a tentative to firm list of places to eat during our week in Orlando. Thankfully only one meal @ the park (lunch @ Cinderellas castle $100+ for my wife daughter & I). And only one day at the Magic Kingdom, the rest of the time at the pool, or eating. My kind of vacation.

On the itenerary:

-Saturday night after the 17 hour drive down. Boston Lobster Feats(I know its a buffet, but if I can eat as much lobster & crab as I can, plus drink some cold beers before going to bed after the long drive I will be happy).
-Sunday - lunch at the hotel pool, dinner Sanaa
-Monday @ the park for lunch, dinner tbd.
-Tuesday - Lunch @ the hotel pool, dinner - a crawfish boil at the Celt in Orlando.
-Wednesday - Lunch @ Dixie Crossing, Titusville, dinner in Coco Beach(Lobster Shanty, Bernards) - TBD
-Thursday - Lunch @ Pool Early Dinner @ The Black Hammock in Oviedo
-Friday - Lunch @ Pool Dinner @ Roy's Orlando
-Saturday - Lunch TBD

we are trying to focus as much as we can on fish camps, and other non chain spots(I know Boston Lobster Feast is a chain but it is what it is as I described above) where we can get alot of fresh oysters, shrimp, alligator, catfish, etc. Sadly stone crab season is over when we go in June.


http://www.theblackhammock.com/restaurant.htm

http://www.harpandcelt.com

www.cocoabeachlobstershanty.com

jimswside wrote:-Saturday night after the 17 hour drive down. Boston Lobster Feats(I know its a buffet, but if I can eat as much lobster & crab as I can, plus drink some cold beers before going to bed after the long drive I will be happy).

I hit Boston Lobster Feast last time I was in Orlando for work. They try to limit the number of whole lobsters that you can take at any one time. Each time you get another you have to wind your way around the buffet line where they hope you will stuff yourself on hush puppies. I found that by making friends with the lobsterman I could get two and three lobsters at a time. The lobsters were very tiny when i was there.

iblock9 wrote:

jimswside wrote:-Saturday night after the 17 hour drive down. Boston Lobster Feats(I know its a buffet, but if I can eat as much lobster & crab as I can, plus drink some cold beers before going to bed after the long drive I will be happy).

I hit Boston Lobster Feast last time I was in Orlando for work. They try to limit the number of whole lobsters that you can take at any one time. Each time you get another you have to wind your way around the buffet line where they hope you will stuff yourself on hush puppies. I found that by making friends with the lobsterman I could get two and three lobsters at a time. The lobsters were very tiny when i was there.

it is what it is, I am going to be pretty tired after the drive down, so we are going to check into the hotel, and hit Boston Lobster Feast for an early dinner, and drinks, and then I am gojng to sleep(I will not be in the mood for a sit down dinner, those can come later in the week). When I was there last time the beer was cold, and the crab legs plentifull.

switched up my Sunday dinner, going to try & got a reservation for the new restaurant Sanaa at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Main draw is windows that overlook the savannah of Animal Kingdom. So now that will be 2 meals either at Disney World, or one of the hotels, I hope to hold it to that.

Granted, it is a chain. But, I had a terrific dinner at Oceanaire Seafood Room on I Drive a few weeks back while on a business trip down there.

They have a three course menu that seemed a pretty good value at $32 a person to me. I give then credit for using plenty of fresh local fish on their menu as well as some other varieties flown in daily.

I chose a shrimp and grits as a starter. The grits were creamy and delicious. The sauteed shrimp were finished in a somewhat sweetish though delicious dark sauce.

For my entree, I had a wonderful grilled blackened amberjack served with a blue cheese butter and atop some carmelized onion. The portion was huge.

Dessert was a bit of a disappointment. A heavy and too sugary key lime pie (more like a cheesecake in consistency and presentation). Maybe I didn't really care so much for it as I was pretty sated at that point.

All of the dinners cames with a very nice loaf of sourdough. We ordered a couple of steakhouse style sides of mashed potatoes and asparagus

I have had such a hard time finding decent places to eat dinner in Orlando, I was very happy to find Oceanaire.

Oceanaire Seafood Room
9101 International Dr # 1002
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 248-0253

added Roy's in Orlando for our last dinner in Orlando the friday night we are there.

I am also looking for any feedback on The Ravenous Pig mentioned upthread, I may try to sneak over there for a snack one day during the week while my wife, and daughter are taking a nap. I have heard good things about The Ravenous Pig elsewhere.

http://theravenouspig.com

I was trying to remember the memorable places that we are in Orlando, just to remember that we ended up at the A&W in Kissimmie which was a pretty good one. Even though we ate in the car, they did bring out the frosty mugs and had some of the friendliest car hops that I have seen in years.

Part of the reason for the light dinner was the great lunch that we had at the Catfish Place in St. Cloud, FL, which was one of the better catfish houses that I have been in.

They offer a lot of local seafood including my favorite, the fingerling catfish that were both tender and quite flavor filled and served whole. The side dishes were excellent and well prepared and the cobblers and other desserts were homemade. Good southern cooking.

http://lynnkessel.blogspot.com/2009/02/ ... place.html


Orlando is not my cup of tea and was just a 10 hour stop to catch a night of sleep on the way between Ft. Myers and Jacksonville.



The Catfish Place
2324 13th St.
St. Cloud, Florida
34769
(407) 892-5771

couple changes to my Orlando eats.

Saturday night instead of driving more and going to Boston Lobster Feast we are going over to the Swan and Dolphin to Kimonos for some sushi.

Wednesday instead of doing more driving(I drive enough back home), we are skipping the day trip to the coast, and going to Universal's citywalk for lunch, and then a dinner reservation @ The Palm for dinner. got drawn in by their 4 LB. lobsters and prime beef.

Jim, when are you going on this trip? I'm already looking forward to photos, especially that 4 lb lobster!

LikestoEatout wrote:Jim, when are you going on this trip? I'm already looking forward to photos, especially that 4 lb lobster!

this month, I cant wait, Shay will have a blast, and I need the rest.

The Palm(I think the Chicago location as well) is offering a "lobster dinner for 2". a 4 # lobster, 2 salads, and one side for $89. You can get a 5 or 6 # lobster for $12 or $24 more. I hope someone orders one of those the night I am there.

Last time I was at WDW ( summer 2007), we enjoyed a nice meal at Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I've heard Jiko ( same hotel) is also a good option. The fun thing about dining at the lodge ,if you're there at night, is taking a walk around the pool where staff will give you night vision goggles to see the animals in the savanna at night.

I'd also give good marks to Flying Fish, although one of the reasons that it might be so good is because it's not a Disney owned restaurant. I also enjoyed Biergarten and Akershus in Epcot ( basically buffets but stocked with stuff that would be really hard to screw up), but Disney pretty much makes it a point to bland down any "ethnic" cuisine served in its parks. The one exception of course would be the drinks, as I would heartily recommend to any beer lovers to try " drinking around the world"

I probably said this already-- I've said it here in the past, but I strongly, strongly, strongly recommend making a reservation for lunch at the Magic Kingdom at Cinderella's Table inside the castle, on the day you go to the MK. (Character breakfast is hard to get reservations for, lunch is not at all-- and hey look, characters!) Not because it's great-- it's fine, like a good family restaurant. But the fast food in the Magic Kingdom is the lamest of any of the parks, and the lines are ungodly at lunchtime. It will make your day a LOT happier to be able to go and sit down at a guaranteed table and enjoy a pleasant, air-conditioned meal and not be standing in the hot sun for an hour for a $7 corn dog.

back from the trip, awesome time, pretty much 100 degrees and sunny every day, and only one 5 hour day at the magic Kingdom, the rest of the time was spent poolside, in Daytona, or St. Pete.

Pics to follow as soon as I finish the download.

Highlights were the rolls at kimonos, stone crab claws @ Johnnies, and half 4 # lobster, a prime dry aged strip steak, and clams casino @ The Palm.

17 hours drive down to Orlando, 16 hours drive back from St. Pete.

Cinderellas table for lunch was the first reservation I made 90 days out, the food was barely edible, but the princesses and how they interacted with my daughter made it worth the $$$.

1st of the pics, a very good, if not great 1st dinner in Orlando last Saturday night after 17 hours driving down, and then 6 hours @ the pool.

ordered a kobe beef appetizer - excellent, tender, flavorfull:


then went for the rolls, california roll, shrimp tempura roll, and the big hit - the lobster salad roll(lobster salad, fried snapper, and wasabi caviar):




still hungry we finished with the soft shell crab roll:


drank some kirin ichiban, and really enjoyed the visit to Kimonos @ The Swan & Dolphin), nice quiet space(before the Kareoke I guess). great service as well.

Kimonos
The San & Dolphin Hotels
Lake Buena Vista, FL.

http://www.swandolphinrestaurants.com

Sunday night was dinner @ the new restaurant at Kidani Village(Animal Kingdom Lodge). this restaurant has windows overlooking the savannah, so girraffes, ostrich, etc, wander by as you eat, food was good, but the view was incredible. Good service as well

I went with (2) appetizers:

- mustard seed scallops - perfectly cooked, although I didnt fully enjoy the flavor profile they were going for


- pulled duck in red curry - excellnt, I had them spice it up, and it was great, tender flavorfull duck


my wife ordered the sustainable fish(sea bass) wrapped in banana leaf - I tasted little and thought it was ok


great view, decent dishes.

Sanaa
Kidani Lodge - Animal Kingdom
Lake Buena Vista, FL.