10 Great Restaurants in Orlando

Bull & Bear Steakhouse is a fine Orlando steakhouse that just happens to be located within one of the city’s grandest hotels, the Waldorf Astoria. Overlooking the hotel’s namesake golf club – right on the border of the sprawling Walt Disney World – views out of the floor-to-ceiling windows are superb. The meticulous service and refined décor are similarly impressive, keeping things smart and sophisticated without ever feeling too stuffy. The steakhouse's pièce de résistance has to be the 32-day dry-aged Tomahawk ribeye, big enough for 2 people to share.

BBQ lovers should look no further than 4 Rivers Steakhouse, one outlet of which is located a short drive north from Downtown at Winter Park. There’s nothing flashy about the non-descript restaurant façade, nor the canteen-like seating arrangements inside (you have the choice between high stools lined up in a row or college-style benches if you don’t want to sit next to strangers), but what 4 Rivers lacks in style it more than makes up for in flavour. Items ‘from the smoker’ include wings, racks of beef and pork ribs, and whole smoked chickens. The signature Angus brisket and range of pulled pork sandwiches also prove hugely popular. Watch out for the long queues that can stretch out to the parking lot on weekends.

The Hilton’s signature La Luce offers a refined Italian menu of thin-crust pizzas, delectable pasta, and an excellent Trattoria-style wine programme. Only open for dinner, the candlelit tables and lulling music make for a romantic setting, although the generously-sized potions and lively service make this good for the whole family. If you’re not into your wines, the creative Mediterranean-inspired cocktail list is well worth checking out, too.

Chef's Table at the Edgewater & Tasting Room is an intimate dining experience just a few miles away from Downtown Orlando. It has received heaps of praise over the last few years, recognised by several regional and national awards. This dining venue welcomes an ever-changing line-up of chefs, and with that comes a regularly altered menu, so you never really know what’s going to be served. However, the 3-course set menu usually features 3 or 4 choices per course, so even the fussiest of eaters should be able to find something they can enjoy. Prices without wine or service start from around $55 for the set menu.

Seasons 52 off Sand Lake Road bases its menu around fresh, seasonal produce – hence the name. This highly-rated restaurant also presents a nice mix of indoor and alfresco seating, with handsome views out back stretching across the adjacent lake. Seasons 52 also has an oak-fired grill and brick oven, helping to bring out the natural flavours, as well as keeping things healthy. Recommended dishes to try are the wood-grilled pork tenderloin, oak-grilled rack of lamb, Asian-glazed Chilean Sea Bass and duck wing ‘lollipops’. There’s also a sturdy line-up of local craft ales and international wines.

The short drive out of town to Yellow Dog Eats is well worth it. It’s not only a restaurant but more of a café in the day and a live music bar at night. The menu of comfort food classics like club sandwiches, pulled pork burgers, tacos and wraps, is served throughout the day. The quaint house near Lake Toho promises different areas, meaning you can slide up to the lively bar for craft ale, find an intimate corner if you’re on a date or find a seat in the charming courtyard to soak up the summery vibes. As you might have guessed from the name, it’s also pet-friendly.

Seito has been at the forefront of Orlando’s slowly evolving sushi scene for years, rolling out an inventive menu that uses traditional Japanese techniques to create new and bold takes on the classics. Emphasis is placed on using the freshest ingredients possible – as Japanese cuisine dictates – with fish imported daily. But Seito is no 1-trick pony; good news if you’re a not a fan of raw fish. Much of the menu is also made up of other Japanese staples, such as ramen, tempura, and curries.

Mythos Restaurant is an award-winning restaurant built into what appears to be a cave. Located in the Jurassic Park: The Lost Continent® section of Universal’s Islands of Adventure, the interior evokes the prehistoric setting well, although the menu takes a sharp detour from the caveman theme. Greek and pan-Mediterranean dishes are Mythos Restaurant's specialities, including risotto, mezze platter, and lamb skewers. What we love about this restaurant is that you can have high-level contemporary cuisine with excellent service and all the trimmings without having to leave the fun of the fair.

Victoria & Albert’s is the sort of place where reservations need to be made weeks in advance. You won’t get in without a dinner jacket, and the restaurant's 6 or more courses from their modern American/French-inspired menu (with wine pairing) will probably set you back the price of a couple of tickets into the park for the day. Orlando is not yet on the Michelin team’s radar, but Victoria & Albert’s has long been recognised as one of Florida’s best restaurants, having been awarded the prestigious AAA Five Diamond award consistently since 2000.