When you think of restaurants in Orlando, you likely have visions of chain restaurants, character dining, and theme park fast food. Yes, that does exist. But Orlando has undergone a renaissance over the past few years when it comes to food. You'll find celebrity chefs have opened their doors, and authentic ethnic fare like Lao street food has taken hold. You'll find everything from the perfect dry-aged steak to incredible "just like Nonna made" Italian food served up family-style.
As you plan your visit to Orlando, spend some time setting your priorities for dining. The best restaurants fill up quickly, and it's always a great idea to make reservations for at least a few of your top dining choices, so you’ll get to experience some new establishments and revisit some old favorites. Enjoy our take on the best restaurants in Orlando.
Our guide to the best Orlando restaurants is an eclectic list, including some of the highest-end dining in town, some hidden (and affordable) spots for fantastic street food, and a few things in between. Surprisingly, some of them are even within the Disney and Universal complex. The theme parks are growing up! All of these selections speak to the fabric of the current dining scene in Orlando, which is very hot right now. Enrich your next trip with a visit to at least one or two of our favorites. You don't have to break the bank to do so!
We'll start our list with the 2021 Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards' Restaurant of the Year. Luke's Kitchen and Bar is one of the best restaurants in Orlando and one you'll want to try. They cook over a wood-fired grill, and their wood-fired tilefish and al pastor octopus are legendary. They source locally as much as possible, both for the kitchen and for the cocktails. A cocktail featuring strawberry and flamed rosemary is a specialty. To keep things seasonal, the menu changes monthly. Don't be put off by the elevated selections - their stellar cheeseburger, which has butter in it, will not be going away. They reimagine classics like wings to make them with hatch green chilies to make them super fun and tasty.
Luke's is all about nostalgia, and the menu is a mix of the standards like steak and seafood dishes. You may find cauliflower steaks and red shrimp ceviche offered. Dessert is worth sticking around for - strawberry shortcake and root beer floats.
Here are some fine-dining favorites for when you're dining to impress or enjoying a special occasion out
Capa is an excellent choice for that special night out. It is an elegant spot located on the top floor of the Four Seasons Orlando with sweeping views of Walt Disney World through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Watch the fireworks from the two outdoor terraces. You'll find impeccable service, outstanding cuisine, and a beautiful ambiance. The menu includes shareable tapas like ham and caramelized onion croquettes or beer brined pork belly.
Their elevated twist on paella is more filling and another favorite. The Calasparra rice is cooked in a red wine stock and topped with crispy chorizo. The menu features everything from caviar to Wagyu beef, and there is a children's menu, so don't rule out bringing the kids.
Victoria and Alberts remains an A-list restaurant in Orlando. It has long been considered one of the best Orlando restaurants. Located at the elegant Disney's Grand Floridian, Victoria and Albert's evokes the Victorian era with white linens, candles, and antique-style furnishings with heavy drapery and carpets.
They do not serve a la carte, but the Chef Degustation Menu is terrific. It may start with an amuse-bouche of caviar or asparagus with Champagne and buttermilk. You'll continue with wild turbot, Kobe-beef, or New Zealand langoustine, and the desserts won't disappoint with Stilton cheesecake with Burgundy pears or lemon-strawberry cremeux.
Wine Bar George at Disney Springs is very popular with locals and visitors. It has an extensive wine list of over 140 wines. Try the Big Board, which is a variety of meats, artisan cheeses, and accompaniments. You’ll also love the family-style platters of skirt steak or the whole grilled sea bass. Their weekend brunch is decadent with brioche French toast and fried chicken biscuit with pimento cheese. Don't leave without trying the Frozcato, made with DOLE whip pineapple, Moscato, and vodka blended into a slushy.
This wine-driven restaurant has rustic wood tables, bottles stacked high over the bar, and lots of ambiance. The menu is a bit limited, but everything is homemade and good.
Eddie V's Prime Seafood is the place to head when you're searching for the best seafood in the area. Their fresh seafood and fine steaks have earned them a spot as one of the best restaurants in Orlando. They are a fine-dining restaurant serving premium hand-cut steaks and fresh seafood. They specialize in hard-to-get seasonal fish like Norwegian salmon, South African lobster, and Georges Bank scallops. In addition, they have a fancy cocktail lounge and live jazz for a tremendous old-world experience.
Hunger Street Tacos is just a few minutes from the center of Orlando. It's a simple spot that creates dishes like esquites (Mexican street corn) and cucumber salads from old family recipes, fried avocado tacos, and mushroom quesadillas. This very popular taqueria serves food made from scratch featuring their homemade tortillas, tacos stuffed with veal cheeks, or chorizo and potato. Their specialty is the birria machete which is a giant tortilla rolled in spicy beef stew. Have a prickly pear margarita which is available by the gallon. Click more on The Best Food Trucks In And Around Orlando, Florida.
Kabooki Sushi offers all the standard sushi rolls and sashimi, but the real treat is the chef-selected multi-course omakase experience. Omakase means "as you like it," or in this case, “chef's choice.” Save room for the desserts - goat cheese panna cotta, and beet cake served with Thai basil, beet powder, almonds, and olive oil.- Yum!
The Ravenous Pig is a stylish gastropub in nearby Winter Park, which serves innovative American fare, beers brewed on-site and handcrafted cocktails. They are known for their house-made charcuterie, which guests will see hanging in the refrigerator as they enter the restaurant. Some of their favorites include the lamb ribs, pork burnt ends, fried chicken sandwich made from dark meat, mushroom and gruyere beignets, and their epic pub burger. The "must try" is the goat cheese tortellini with pork cheeks. The atmosphere is light and joyful, and a visit to the beer garden and taproom guarantees a good time.
The Stubborn Mule is a downtown Orlando restaurant appreciated for its creative new American dishes and drinks. They offer up over a dozen variations of their signature drink - The Mule. Visit for brunch and try a bottomless mimosa and entree like Who Woke Up First, a sandwich made of funnel cake fried chicken, topped with swiss cheese, bacon, and an over-easy egg served between two cinnamon-dusted cronies and drizzled with bourbon syrup.
Domu creates homemade noodles to be served in a dozen different dishes and shareable plates like Asian buns. Their happy hour includes a wasabi and ginger margarita that is well worth the visit. The restaurant is tiny, and seating can be tricky. However, the space is chic and modern, with whitewashed walls, murals, and interesting fixtures. Homemade noodles and slow-cooked broths make the ramen here unforgettable. The pan-Asian menu includes rice bowls, lobster buns with bonito flakes, grilled octopus, and more. Their ice cream is creative with flavors like taro, Vietnamese coffee, and horchata.
Prato Italian is a stylish eatery in Winter Park that may just offer the best pizza in town. They prepare Italian classics with their own modern take. Think mustard spaghetti cacio e pepe. Dine al fresco on Park Ave or inside, where you can people watch from huge windows lining the space. They serve exciting pizzas and plates of pasta, all prepared in the wood-fired ovens, and a variety of paninis, house-cured meats, seafood, and salads.
Se7en Bites is a quaint bakery located in the Milk District. They are open for breakfast and lunch with a menu that changes daily. The menu might include handcrafted moon pies or local fruit-infused cobblers. The Southern classics get a new twist, and the biscuits, soups, and eggs are terrific. You may have seen this spot on "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives." You'll love the flavors and downhome deliciousness.
Dining in Orlando
The selection of dining options in Orlando is vast. If you love to dine outdoors, check out Top Outdoor Dining Restaurants to Eat at When Vacationing in Orlando. Any list of the best Orlando restaurants is bound to reflect some degree of personal taste and includes more favorites. Rest assured, the food scene in Orlando is booming, and you're sure to find plenty of perfect options for your extraordinary dining experiences.