Orlando for Big Spenders

Gourment Dining

Orlando has long been known for theme parks, and the dining experience has been pretty much an afterthought, apart from a few notable exceptions. That certainly isn’t the case any longer, as Orlando’s focus on fine dining is attracting award-winning chefs from all over the world. And, for the truly gourmet experience, you can select from any of dozens of fine-dining locations, all of which are packed with the ‘something different’ factor. Fine dining has become an attraction in its own right, with tables booking up well in advance, especially during peak season. You should call for a reservation in advance whenever possible, so take note of the numbers if they appeal to you.

Among the finest (and one of our real favourites) is the Asian-fusion cuisine of Tchoup-Chop (pronounced Chop-Chop) one of the three restaurants located inside Universal’s Royal Pacific Resort. Not only is the décor absolutely stunning and the service as smooth and eye-catching as the surroundings, but the menu is a masterpiece of all things Asian, as crafted by New Orleans celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse. To book, call 407 503 2467.

PRO SPOT: As ever with Orlando hotels, you do NOT need to be a guest to dine at any of the fine hotel restaurants mentioned here. However, when you make a reservation, make sure you take your confirmation number (if given) when you drive up to the hotel. The likes of Disney and Universal have gated security, and you will usually need to give your reservation number.

Staying with the Universal theme, head to the magnificent Portofino Bay Resort and you will find Bice, their new gourmet Italian restaurant. This internationally renowned name crops up in the likes of New York, Tokyo and Dubai but originated in Milan, and the menu features a heady mix of Northern Italian delights. The wine list is equally extensive (and suitably expensive) and dinner for two here is likely to be around $130-$140, without wine, but you will be hard pushed to find more succulent and appetizing Italian fare anywhere in town. Call 407 503 1415.

Completing Universal’s line-up of fine dining options is The Palm at the Hard Rock Hotel. This is another renowned US chain, originating in New York, and features some unique décor, with the walls covered with topical caricatures of local and national celebrities. It specialises in steak and seafood, including superb jumbo Maine lobster, and also boasts some of the smoothest service in town. Dinner only, from 5pm. Call 407 503 7256.

Returning to the Walt Disney World resort, you can also try a huge variety of dining choice, starting with the true upscale and unique experience of Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, which opened in 1988. Not so much dinner as an event on a grand scale, the basic menu is a fixed price, six-course repast (changing periodically) that will take at least 2 hours to enjoy fully, with immaculate service in an intimate setting. You can add some premium items (like Iranian caviar and pan-roasted foie gras) to the set menu, for an additional fee. Menu is Prix Fixe at $125 per person, plus $60 per person for wine paring. Call 407 939 3463.

PRO SPOT: For the ultimate in exclusive Disney dining, ask for the Chef’s Table at Victoria & Albert’s. This candlelit alcove occupies a corner of the kitchen and guarantees the most attentive service, with its own seven-course menu. You also get a tour of the kitchen and welcome champagne. The Chef’s Table can accommodate only 10 people a night and dinner here will take 3-4 hours. It also costs at least $165 a head ($70/person extra for wine paring), and you often need to book up to 180 days in advance as it is THE speciality Disney restaurant.

Another personal favourite of ours for its intimate style and delightful menu is Jiko at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Here, the ‘Cooking Place’ features some highly imaginative cuisine – a fusion of African Asian and other world-inspired dishes – as well as a superb South African wine list. It is worth arriving early to give yourself a quick tour of this beautiful resort, too, and perhaps stop for a drink at the Victoria Falls bar first. Call 407 939 3463.

Head outside the two big resorts and you will find some more distinct and highly attractive restaurants, of which the award-winning Seasons 52 is a prime example. Located in the Plaza Venezia on Sand Lake Road, just west of I-4, this was a largely experimental outing of the Darden restaurant group, who also own the Olive Garden and red Lobster chains. It specialises in ultra-fresh, low calorie food, with an emphasis on vegetables and other healthy options, but there is nothing ‘veggie’ or overtly calorie-conscious about it. The menu changes according to the week of the year (the ‘52 seasons’) and whatever is in season, but everything is presented in a truly appetising manner. ‘Exceptional taste with fewer calories’ is their mantra, and it is hard to argue. Call 407 354 5212.

The impressive Grand Lakes Resort is nicely off the main tourist track, yet barely 15 minutes from all the main attractions. It also features Norman’s, a restaurant creation of American celebrity chef Norman van Aken, with a fusion of Latin and Caribbean recipes in a unique ‘new world cuisine.’ The view from the Ritz-Carlton location over the Grand Lakes golf course is also delightful. Call 407 393 4333.

Staying with the well-known chef theme, Roy’s in the Plaza Venezia is another wonderfully enticing option. Both stylish and friendly, this small chain created by Hawaiian chef Roy Yamaguchi made its Orlando debut in 2001 and features a heavily seafood-based menu, with hints of Asian and South Seas cuisines. Call 407 352 4844.

PRO SPOT: Stumped for choice by Roy’s eclectic style? Try three of Roy’s classics: the Hawaiian Blackened Island Ahi followed by the Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi, and his Melting Hot Chocolate Soufflé for dessert.

If you crave only the finest Italian food, make Christini’s an essential part of your holiday plan. This elegant classic-style restaurant (upstairs at the Fountains Plaza on West Sand Lake Road) has been part of the Orlando scene for more than 40 years. The regional Italian menu features some real masterpieces as Chris Christini and his team mix daily specials with a well tried-and-trusted formula. Call 407 345 8770.

The massive Gaylord Palms Resort is not just a fantastic-looking building, it also houses an excellent steakhouse in the form of Old Hickory, a superbly rustic-themed Everglades-style venue. Their thick, juicy steaks are all quality Certified Black Angus aged cuts, prepared using their distinctive open-flame grills. They also serve some tempting seafood dishes, and you can conclude with an outstanding artisanal cheese course prepared by celebrated New York chef Terrance Brennan. Call 407 586 1600.

Downtown Orlando also has its fair share of good-quality dining, and arguably the best of them is located inside the splendid Grand Bohemian, the only luxury hotel in the city centre. The Boheme is another romantic, intimate setting, featuring classic dishes with a modern twist like Cognac Lobster Bisque, Thai Spiced Duck Breast and White Chocolate Lemon Tower. Friendly, efficient service is another highlight and you can also enjoy a drink in the stylish Bosendorfer Lounge beforehand. Call 407 313 9000.

PRO SPOT: Visit The Boheme on a Friday or Saturday evening and you can enjoy the free live contemporary jazz. Go on Tuesday and it is classical, while Thursday feature a more blues style. They also serve some of the best martinis in town! The hotel also features some superb artwork from renowned Floridian artists, which all help to mark it out as a real original in the hotel world.

On International Drive, in the heart of tourist territory, the fine dining flag is carried proudly by Dux in The Peabody hotel (near the Convention Center). Specialising in veal, lamb and beef with a world cuisine twist, this is an artistic exercise in matching eye appeal with taste, and the chef de cuisine changes this seasonally, with some outstanding salads and even vegetarian dishes (still not omni-present in Orlando). Call 407 352 4000.

A restaurant that opened in 2002 to a blaze of fully-justified publicity was Todd English’s (another American celebrity chef!) bluezoo at the Walt Disney World Dolphin hotel. With a beautifully soothing ‘marine’ décor and a very chic bar area to enjoy a drink either pre or post-dinner, the restaurant opts for an equally dramatic seafood-orientated menu, with a huge range of appetisers, including oysters, flatbreads, shrimp and salads. There are daily fresh fish specials, plus the house signature ‘Dancing Fish,’ a unique rotisserie to cook whole fish upright around their open-fire grill. Call 407 934 1111.

Back at the Hyatt Grand Cypress near to Walt Disney World (which actually has possibly the best restaurant line-up of all the big hotels), La Coquina Chef’s Table is their ultra-speciality dining experience. Available Thursday to Saturday (seasonally September-June), this gourmet opportunity features tables inside the main kitchen, with chefs preparing everything in full view from a superb set, five-course menu. Call 407 239 3853.

Further to the south, at the new Omni Orlando Resort at Champions Gate, the wonderful Asian style of Zen is another of our local favourites. With a beautiful oriental setting, the mix of Japanese and Chinese cuisines has a huge array of tempting dishes. Or you can just choose the Zen Experience for a wonderful set menu featuring some of their best tastes. There is also a quaint sake bar and a full-service sushi bar. 6pm-10pm daily. Call 407 390 6664.

PRO SPOT: Dine at the Hyatt Grand Cypress or the Champions Gate hotel restaurants and you qualify for free valet parking, so just drive up to the main lobby entrance and leave your car with the hotel valet while you stroll in for dinner.

We couldn’t let this section go by without a mention for one of our favourite romantic restaurants, Rosen Shingle Creek’s relatively new offering, Cala Bella. Chef Dan Nester has created a truly memorable Italian dining experience, with an open kitchen serving up wonderfully creative Mediterranean inspired dishes. As beautiful as each entrée is, the desserts are even more spectacular. Call 407 996 3663.

PRO SPOT: Looking for the best Sunday Brunch in town? Hyatt Grand Cypress Resort’s La Coquina sets out a stunning brunch in French marketplace style, overlooking Lake Windsong. Made-to-order omelets, fresh chicken and seafood, pasta, salads, waffles, pancakes, fruits and cheeses—the choice is quite magnificent, topped off by a mouth-watering selection of succulent desserts. Reservations are strongly recommended, on 407 239 3853. Seasonally September-June.

Back on International Drive, the newest fine-dining option is offered at the Salt Island Chophouse & Fish Market, just north of the junction with Sand Lake Road. It may sound like a curious choice, but this is where the ‘in’ crowd currently head, with free valet parking and a chic live music lounge serving as the right appetisers to the restaurant itself. The theme is totally water-related, with aquariums dotted throughout the dining area (which also feature some eclectic blue décor), and the highlights are steak and seafood, beautifully cooked and served. If you can’t make up your mind, opt for the surf and turf – truly delicious! Call 407 996 7258.

We would also include the Portobello Yacht Club in Downtown Disney in this list purely for one of their starters – the Portobello Mushroom (wood roasted mushroom, sliced thinly, with gorgonzola cheese and a creamy soft polenta in rosemary wine sauce). We often visit here just for this dish (and a glass of Chianti); just superb. The rest of their regional Italian-flavoured menu, all set in an airy Mediterranean ambience, is pretty good, too! Call 407 939 3463.

Another Disney entertainment centre is The Boardwalk, close to the Epcot park, and here you will find another superb seafood offering in the Flying Fish Café. The whimsical décor belies the sheer quality of the dishes, which feature such delights as Potato-Wrapped Red Snapper and Fines-Herbs Crusted Alaskan Halibut. And, if you make it through to dessert, the Warm Valrhona Chocolate Galette is true heaven! Call 407 939 3463.

Returning to Downtown Disney for our final two examples, we can’t let this section go without mention of Wolfgang Puck’s Dining Room. As if the downstairs choices (of restaurant, sushi bar and café express) aren’t enough (and we rate the main restaurant one of the best family dining choices in town), go upstairs and you find the exclusive Dining Room, where the menu (by the famous Californian chef) takes his reputation to new heights. The pan seared scallops are melt-in-the-mouth good, while the sashimi-grade tuna is equally succulent; then the main courses feature more fine fish dishes, steak, lamb, ribs, chicken and duck, although with a flamboyant presentation and flavour. Call 407 939 3463.

PRO SPOT: Fulton’s Crabhouse is a highly popular restaurant choice in Downtown Disney, but, if you can’t get a table straight away, enjoy a drink first in the Stone Crab Lounge. If you can choose your dining room (of the five spread out through out this mock paddle-steamer), opt for the beautiful Constellation Room, which is quite superb at sunset.

And if all THAT doesn’t give you food for thought, nothing will. As you can tell, there are now a host of fine-dining experiences just waiting to be sampled, and we could easily add another half dozen or so, with Everglades, the smart steak and seafood-orientated dining room inside the Omni Rosen Center hotel on International Drive; Sunset Sam’s, the Gaylord Palms’ Key West-style restaurant inside their magnificent resort; the Venetian Room, the surprising upscale dining venue at the Caribe Royale Resort on World Center Drive; Le Jardin du Castillons, a small but eye-catching French restaurant just off Park Avenue in Winter Park; Texas de Brasil, an unusual but delicious Brazilian-style steakhouse; and Citrico’s, arguably the most chic of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort restaurants, with California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort being another excellent choice.

That pretty much sums up the choice for some serious indulgence on your Orlando vacation – a real exercise in holiday high living. And, even if any of these sound off-putting either from a financial point of view or simply because they sound an unlikely accompaniment to the usual theme park menu, we would strongly urge you to consider at least a small taste of any of the above – there is just no substitute for that five-star feeling!

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