Monthly Archives: February 2013

Ocean Prime

Posted on by

IMG_6464

**** (4 stars)

A good choice if you can’t decide between steak and seafood. The place can (will) get quite loud, so ask for a quiet table (one of the booths is best; booth 58 is ideal).

The tuna tartare appetizer and the house salad are standouts. Jalapeño au gratins are a great choice for a side, and are not particularly spicy.

There is an extensive selection of wines by the glass at reasonable prices.

Service is exceptional, perhaps the best on all of restaurant row. Live music on Thursday through Saturday is loud in the bar, but perfectly piped into the dining room.

Valet parking is available for those who can’t be bothered to walk fifty feet.

Ocean Prime
7339 W Sand Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 781-4880
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ocean-prime-orlando

Cantina Laredo

Posted on by

*** (3 stars)

I’m not sure what to say about this place. I like the ambiance and the food, but every time my wife and I eat here we don’t feel well, so we’ve stopped going. It must be some spice they use. Good chips and salsa, and good margaritas. There are some interesting twists on typical TexMex, so if it agrees with you, it could be a good choice.

Cantina Laredo
8000 Via Dellagio Way
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 345-0186
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cantina-laredo-orlando-2

Big Fin Seafood Kitchen

Posted on by

**** (4 stars)

This is a big old cavernous place that does a lot of good stuff with fresh seafood. It can get really loud, so if you don’t want that ask to sit in the back room. Sushi isn’t their strong point, but they do offer some, along with oysters and other shellfish. I really like the salads and fish dishes. Good bread, too. Reasonably priced wines, unlike most of the other restaurants in the area.

Big Fin Seafood Kitchen
8046 W Sand Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 615-8888
http://www.yelp.com/biz/big-fin-seafood-kitchen-orlando

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

Posted on by

*** (3 stars)

Yet another restaurant row steakhouse. Prices are high, and steaks are good, but nothing extraordinary. Happy hour in the bar is a good deal. But Flemings has the stingiest wine pours in town. Despite the high prices per glass, they must be stretching a bottle at least to six pours, maybe more. There are better choices within two blocks.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
8030 Via Dellagio Way
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 352-5706
http://www.yelp.com/biz/flemings-prime-steakhouse-and-wine-bar-orlando

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Posted on by

*** (3 stars)

Yet another restaurant row steakhouse. The way the dining room is divided up into smaller spaces makes this a somewhat more pleasant environment than Flemings and Mortons, but it otherwise is very similar. A good choice for business dinners after a convention but locals might be better off to head up to Christner’s (del Frisco) for a local–and better–steak.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House
7501 Sand Lake Road
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 226-3900
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ruths-chris-steak-house-orlando-2

Morton’s The Steakhouse

Posted on by

*** (3 stars)

Morton’s is the oldest steakhouse on restaurant row. In fact, they basically invented the chain steakhouse concept. It’s much imitated now, so there isn’t a lot to differentiate it from the copiers. And it’s the noisiest dining room on Sand Lake Road (which is saying something). I had a business dinner here once and literally couldn’t communicate with the client! However there is one great thing about Mortons, and that’s the bar. It’s cozy, and there’s an amazing happy hour menu at great prices. Moreover, smart locals know that the bar is the place to have dinner. You can get the full deal, in a relaxed environment where you can talk. If I have to have steak on restaurant row, that’s where I go.

Morton’s The Steakhouse
7600 Dr. Phillips Boulevard
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 248-3485
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mortons-the-steakhouse-orlando-2

Flame Kabob

Posted on by

*** (3 stars)

This little end spot on a strip mall used to be a counter service Indian Place, but now it’s Middle Eastern, and offers table service. There’s a lot of nearby competition, from Bosporous and Cedar’s, so I’m not sure what differentiates it, other than they have a few outside tables that are pleasant. Lunch service is “leisurely” to put it in the best light.

Flame Kabob
7536 Dr Phillips Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 248-2280
http://www.yelp.com/biz/flame-kabob-orlando

Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine

Posted on by

**** (4 stars)

This is a good place that is unfortunately too expensive for lunch. The big puffy bread is the highlight, and all the dishes we enjoy at the Winter Park location, such as the kebabs and vegetarian items are just as good here.  This would be a good choice for dinner, particularly on a nice night eating at the sidewalk tables. However for lunch we go across the street to Cedars.

Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine
7600 Doctor Phillips Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 352-6766
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bosphorous-turkish-cuisine-orlando

Café de France

Posted on by

***** (5 stars)

In a town that used to be filled with French restaurants, Cafe de France is one of the only survivors, and deservedly so. The ambiance is friendly and the food is consistently good. There are a lot of authentic things going on here, but also an American spin on a lot of the items. Ask about their wine pairing dinners, which are an excellent deal.

Café de France
526 S Park Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
(407) 647-1869
http://www.yelp.com/biz/caf%C3%A9-de-france-winter-park-2

Paris Bistro

Posted on by

***** (5 stars)

Wow, what great ambiance this place has. It reminds me of a little cafe of the Champs Elysee in Paris. Food is authentically French, and the service is attentive and professional. I love sitting under the giant (fake but very realistic) tree in the enclosed courtyard and having lunch or brunch, both of which are very attractively priced. I’ve followed this place since its origin, with a different name and different owners, through  three locations, and it still never disappoints. My favorite little Orlando bistro.

Paris Bistro
216 N Park Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
(407) 671-4424
http://www.yelp.com/biz/paris-bistro-winter-park