pls recommend some restaurants (Orlando, Daytona Beach: price, assessment, beach)

[cafecoqui]

Hi. I will be visiting Daytona Beach next week, staying for 10 days. Also will be driving to Orlando, because you know....you just have to go to one of the theme parks while in florida. you just have to! Anyway, i am looking for some great places to eat that are affordable. Not Mcdonalds, or Ruby Tuesday's, or typical chain place. I want places that are locally owned, hidden gems that only the locals know about. you know, those places that might look like a hole in the wall but that offer amazing food. I like all types of food so bring it on! thanks.

[brinkofsunshine]

I guess I will give out some of my secrets

Yellow Dog Eats in Gotha. Press 101, Le Cafe de Paris, Junior Colombian Burger, and Hot Krust in Dr. Phillips. Dandelion Communitea Cafe, Pom Pom's Teahouse and Sandwicheria, Bananas Diner- all in downtown Orlando.

[Pete C]

This place is overhyped beyond all comprehension now (you can hardly drive anywhere now without spotting someone with a bumper sticker on their car to show their allegiance to this place), but 4 Rivers on Fairbanks right off I-4 in Winter Park is a local sensation to say the least. Hard to argue though as it has the best BBQ in a state not known for BBQ. Just ate there for lunch and it's as tasty as ever. Try the Burnt Ends sandwich.

Mediterranean Blue just south of Downtown Orlando is the spot for the best local gyros (and other Greek fare). Family owned, hugely successful, and cheap...can't beat that.

Tako Cheena downtown is a tiny local spot on eclectic Mills Ave downtown (also owned by Pom Pom) that serves Latin Asian fusion...tasty!

[FL2MT]

I like Yellow Dog Eats too. That or Harry & Larry's BBQ in Winter Garden.

Yellow Dog Eats

Harry & Larry's Bar-B-Que

[lcole07]

Everyone knows Beefy King

http://beefyking.com/

Beefy King - Colonialtown South - Orlando, FL

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by cafecoqui

Hi. I will be visiting Daytona Beach next week, staying for 10 days. Also will be driving to Orlando, because you know....you just have to go to one of the theme parks while in florida. you just have to! Anyway, i am looking for some great places to eat that are affordable. Not Mcdonalds, or Ruby Tuesday's, or typical chain place. I want places that are locally owned, hidden gems that only the locals know about. you know, those places that might look like a hole in the wall but that offer amazing food. I like all types of food so bring it on! thanks.

I would recommend Thai House on E Colonial Drive and Stonewood Grill and Tavern on Dr. Phillips Blvd.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

I would recommend Thai House on E Colonial Drive and Stonewood Grill and Tavern on Dr. Phillips Blvd.

Stonewood is ok. It's a chain.

In Dr Phillips, I like big fin seafood kitchen, moonfish for happy hour and sushi at dragonfly.

[Peter1948]

I would stay in Orlando if the restaurants weren't so...behind the times. We are starting to get a few places that are with the times.

The places mentioned are good for lower/budget type of places. Mediterranean Blue and Four Rivers are good low priced, tasty staples. This is more take out food that fits in the "locally owned" fast casual genre. Think a local Chipotle serving fresh Greek food and gyros, and local style southern Bar-B-Q.

However, for authentic, innovative, farm to table, "big city" type dining the city is sorely lacking. Big time. Smaller southern peers like Charleston and Athens have much better scenes, and even mid sized cities like Louisville and New Orleans have a substantially better food scene which literally blow Orlando out of the water. Speaking of which, I have never seen a city an hour away from the ocean with such a poor selection of quality, fresh, non chain seafood places. As far as chains go, there are some pretty good ones such as Del Frisco's for steak, and Houston's for upscale American seasonal menu.

That said, we are starting to get a few places. Most of the foodie culture is centered in Winter Park, and there you will find a few restaurants worthy of your time and dollar. The best ones right now are Galopin, Prato, and Luma. Cask and Larder and Ravenous Pig are pretty decent as well. Also, there are some very good taco trucks and good, authentic cheap latin street food fare. Other than that, the restaurant scene around here has a long way to go.

In general, perhaps because of the still tourist mindset of Orlando, folks focus on the looks of the restaurants rather than the quality or the presentation of the food. In the mean time, this city is an absolute gold mine for any chef that can come in and do a fresh, innovative, farm to table concept with good local brewpub and wine pairings. The fact that Prato is packed every night is evidence of this.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by Peter1948

I would stay in Orlando if the restaurants weren't so...behind the times. We are starting to get a few places that are with the times.

The places mentioned are good for lower/budget type of places. Mediterranean Blue and Four Rivers are good low priced, tasty staples. This is more take out food that fits in the "locally owned" fast casual genre. Think a local Chipotle serving fresh Greek food and gyros, and local style southern Bar-B-Q.

However, for authentic, innovative, farm to table, "big city" type dining the city is sorely lacking.

In general, perhaps because of the still tourist mindset of Orlando, folks focus on the looks of the restaurants rather than the quality or the presentation of the food. In the mean time, this city is an absolute gold mine for any chef that can come in and do a fresh, innovative, farm to table concept with good local brewpub and wine pairings. The fact that Prato is packed every night is evidence of this.

Have you been to the table.....they source locally for everything when possible. As far as local seafood places, big fin seafood kitchen and moonfish are good local seafood places, but on the high end as far as budget goes

[Mr Idealism]

did you really just compare two (nola &charleston) of the best food cultures in this country to Orlando? I agree with your recs and assessment of winter park, but compare apples to apples.

Originally Posted by Peter1948

I would stay in Orlando if the restaurants weren't so...behind the times. We are starting to get a few places that are with the times.

The places mentioned are good for lower/budget type of places. Mediterranean Blue and Four Rivers are good low priced, tasty staples. This is more take out food that fits in the "locally owned" fast casual genre. Think a local Chipotle serving fresh Greek food and gyros, and local style southern Bar-B-Q.

However, for authentic, innovative, farm to table, "big city" type dining the city is sorely lacking. Big time. Smaller southern peers like Charleston and Athens have much better scenes, and even mid sized cities like Louisville and New Orleans have a substantially better food scene which literally blow Orlando out of the water. Speaking of which, I have never seen a city an hour away from the ocean with such a poor selection of quality, fresh, non chain seafood places. As far as chains go, there are some pretty good ones such as Del Frisco's for steak, and Houston's for upscale American seasonal menu.

That said, we are starting to get a few places. Most of the foodie culture is centered in Winter Park, and there you will find a few restaurants worthy of your time and dollar. The best ones right now are Galopin, Prato, and Luma. Cask and Larder and Ravenous Pig are pretty decent as well. Also, there are some very good taco trucks and good, authentic cheap latin street food fare. Other than that, the restaurant scene around here has a long way to go.

In general, perhaps because of the still tourist mindset of Orlando, folks focus on the looks of the restaurants rather than the quality or the presentation of the food. In the mean time, this city is an absolute gold mine for any chef that can come in and do a fresh, innovative, farm to table concept with good local brewpub and wine pairings. The fact that Prato is packed every night is evidence of this.