**** (4 stars)
This Flipper’s is a bit nicer than some of the others, and the food is identical. Pizza and salads are good, but my favorites are the calzones. Try them with extra ricotta. Service is prompt, although the kitchen can be slow at lunch time. The lunch prices are incredibly low for a complete meal with a drink.
Flippers Pizzeria
7339 W Sand Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 352-2213
http://www.yelp.com/biz/flippers-pizzeria-orlando-11
**** (4 stars)
Lunch here is a great deal, especially if you go with the slice of the day. Salads are good, and there’s tea in the iced tea, so you can taste it. There’s a large outside dining area in front that is quite pleasant. Service seems uneven, but not a show-stopper.
NYPD Pizza
2589 S Hiawassee Rd
Orlando, FL 32835
(407) 293-8880
http://www.yelp.com/biz/nypd-pizza-orlando-3
**** (4 stars)
This is the third location for this long-time favorite, and the first time they haven’t been in a dying mall. Although the space is fairly new, the decor already looks a hundred year old, complete with dust and cobwebs. But for an English pub I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. The food and drink are quite authentic, and in fact the fish and chips are better than any I’ve ever gotten in London. A good choice for lunch, or for hanging out and doing those things one does in a pub.
Cricketer’s Pub & Eatery
7563 W Sand Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 730-2111
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cricketers-pub-and-eatery-orlando
***** (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
**** (4 stars)
Lovely hotel, built on a Vegas scale, with superb convention facilities, and an interesting collection of small cafes.
Unfortunately on our first visit the Italian restaurant, Cala Bella, was disappointing in both food and service. The oddly named steakhouse, A Land Remembered, was a better bet.
For kids who want to spend the vacation in the pool, this is a great choice, because there are plenty to choose from. And if golf is your thing, it’s right outside.
I love the secluded feel of the property, with the long entry way and manicured grounds, yet it’s really conveniently located near attractions and I-Drive.
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Update, one year later:
On a busy convention night, we were only able to get into Cala Bella. We sat at the “Presentation Bar” which faces directly into the kitchen, and it was, ironically, the quietest spot in the house. Service was attentive and knowledgeable, and the food was excellent. Unlike the bland cioppino of our first visit, the flatbread was bursting with fresh flavors and tasted just like the sidewalk pizzas in Italy. Chilean sea bass was perfectly cooked, and the mushroom side dish with our entrees was another standout. A completely different experience from our first visit, and I’ll happily return.
Rosen Shingle Creek
9939 Universal Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 996-9939
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rosen-shingle-creek-orlando-2
*** (3 stars)
Bravo offers the standard Italian restaurant chain fare, but it has one of the best outside dining venues in the city, a large patio high above Sand Lake Road, Orlando’s restaurant row. Since there isn’t really any great Italian food in the area, it’s as good a choice as any, and if you want to dine outdoors, this is an excellent choice.
BRAVO! Cucina Italiana
7924 Via Dellagio Way
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 351-5880
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bravo-cucina-italiana-orlando
***** (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
**** (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
*** (3 stars)
I find the sushi here quite expensive compared to other choices nearby, and not really any better. Amura seems like it’s aimed more at the tourist market, with its proximity to I-Drive and the convention center. It’s okay, but not worth the premium.
Amura Japanese Restaurant
7786 W Sand Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 370-0007
http://www.yelp.com/biz/amura-japanese-restaurant-orlando-2
***** (5 stars)
Indeed, in a city of BBQ joints, this is the best. At most BBQ places I lik sliced pork, but the ticket here is either the “burnt ends”, a mixture of beef and pork from the edges that is seared to perfection and mixed with BBQ sauce, or the brisket, which is best just as a lump on your tray rather than a sandwich. Most of the sides are less exciting than these two entrees, although the do have some tasty (and caloric) desserts.
4 Rivers Smokehouse
1600 W Fairbanks Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
(407) 474-8377
http://www.yelp.com/biz/4-rivers-smokehouse-winter-park-2