Lee and Ricks Oyster Bar

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**** (4 stars)

Part of the appeal of Lee and Rick’s is that it IS a dive. There’s something experiential about sitting at a concrete trough with a hundred layers of paint on it eating oysters served by girls wearing “I Eat Em Raw” T-Shirts. One of the best deals in town is the basket of shrimp, served hot or chilled (I prefer chilled). Mix up your own cocktail sauce from the provided condiments, add a few saltine crackers, and you’ve got a fresh shellfish feast for under ten bucks.

Lee and Ricks Oyster Bar
5621 Old Winter Garden Rd
Orlando, FL 32811
(407) 293-3587
http://www.yelp.com/biz/lee-and-ricks-oyster-bar-orlando

The Stained Glass

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Tuna Tuna Tuna!

Tuna Tuna Tuna!

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***** (5 stars)

The Stained Glass is one of my favorite restaurants in the whole world, and we’ve dined at some of the best. I always visit at least TWICE if I’m in the Chicago area. We love being able to put together our own custom flights of half glasses of wine, and then match them with several small courses of appetizers. The shared appetizers such as the charcuterie are particularly good. Servers are knowledgeable and friendly, and the ambiance is great. A neighborhood gem.

The Stained Glass
1735 Benson Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-8600
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-stained-glass-evanston

Ciao Italia Ristorante Italiano

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***** (5 stars)

Ciao Italia Ristorante offers surprising upscale and romantic decor for its strip mall location. There is little doubt that this is the best — and most authentic — Italian food in Orlando. All of the ingredients are extremely fresh. The sauces, seafood and vegetables are highlights, and are pretty much exactly what you’d get in a nice restaurant in Southern Italy. They also have the best garlic bread in Orlando, partially due to the freshness of the underlying bread, and partially to the generous amount of butter and garlic used to make it. Try the “chef’s salad”, a deliciously creamy lime, romaine and pine nut concoction. Reasonably priced.

Ciao Italia Ristorante Italiano
6149 Westwood Blvd
Orlando, FL 32821
(407) 354-0770
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ciao-italia-ristorante-italiano-orlando

Gator’s Dockside

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***** (5 stars)

This is Orlando’s best sports bar. It has all the TVs and atmosphere you expect in a sports bar, plus excellent food and service. Gators offers “grilled” buffalo chicken wings, which are prepped the normal way (with your choice of about a dozen sauces), but are then grilled, which makes them much less fatty than most wings. They also have great burgers, monte cristo sandwiches, and — surprisingly for a sports bar — excellent salads. It’s also a very good place for large groups. We have our company birthday parties here. Highly recommended.

Gator’s Dockside
5142 Dr Phillips Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 392-4669
http://www.yelp.com/biz/gators-dockside-orlando-3

Victoria & Albert’s

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***** (5 stars)

Chef Scott Hunnel has created a dining experience that rivals the best restaurants in the US, possibly the world. The seven course menu provides two or three selections for each course, emphasizing fresh ingredients that work together, yet also allow you to savor each flavor and understand why it was used to create the whole.

The chef’s table in the kitchen provides an even more extensive experience.

The matching wine pairings are an excellent way to enhance the meal. Manager Israel Perez has thoughtfully selected often surprising and always delightful wines to match each course.

The dining room is lush, spacious, and romantic, and the service is both professional and friendly. There is no hint of the Disney ambiance, just the sort of perfection one expects from a five star experience.

Pricing is quite reasonable for the top notch experience you’re guaranteed. I can say “guaranteed” with some confidence, since I’ve never had less than a perfect meal in dozens of visits. Highly recommended.

Victoria & Albert’s
4401 Floridian Way
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
(407) 939-7707
http://www.yelp.com/biz/victoria-and-alberts-lake-buena-vista

Tabla Bar and Grill

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***** (5 stars)

Don’t be put off by the somewhat tired looking Days Inn next door. Tabla offers the most sophisticated Indian dining you’ll find in Orlando, and perhaps anywhere in the US. The complexity of each entree is amazing, with gourmet twists on old favorites, and lots of creative surprises. Ask for the avocado and mint sauce to dip your papadums in! Lunch is a particular bargain, with a multi course meal starting at just $7. Desserts are a specialty. The mango tempura with coconut gelato is amazing.

Tabla Bar and Grill
5827 Caravan Ct
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 248-9400
http://www.yelp.com/biz/tabla-bar-and-grill-orlando