Foodie desperately seeks interesting (non chain) food choices in and around Disney Florida

[BettyBathroom]

We're going to Disney as a gift to the dcs, it's our idea of food hell but hoping there's someone out there who can change our view on the food.

We got a guide with our villa,( which is near Kissimee, Davenport, Clermont) but it was a long list of good food chains but that's not really what we're after.
Hoping someone who shares my passion for good food can give me their top tips for good food whether it be Vietnamese, Korean, Italian, Southern BBQ, Mexican, Cuban or whatever. Would love to find those special independent places that serve real good food. We will have our share of Character meals and plastic food...but I can't eat mediocre touristy food all week - I can cook for us but would ideally like a few food places to get excited about visiting too.

Ok, well if you like Japanese, I know two good ones. There is a Kobe on the 192 a few miles from Old Town/Celebration (you will find that within a day or so of getting there, everyone knows old town and Celebration). It is the opposite side of the road to Old Town/Celebration heading West on the 192. They have a 'normal' side to the restaurant with typical japenese food and the other side is the tepajaki (sp?) table where they cook in front of you. You are seated on tables for 10 so often end up sharing with others.

In celebration itself (tiny little village just off the 192) there is another Japanese restaurant and a little Thai one just around the corner. They are in the central part, opposite the lake and by the shops.

For Italian, I'd recommend Geordiarnos (sp?) which is located in the Formosa Gardens shopping centre just off the 192. It is further along (West) from Celebration and does the most amazing lasagne and pizzas so big that even DH and DS1 couldn't finish one.

Not managed to find a good chinese yet so if you find one, let me know. There are quite a few eat all you can buffet chinese around but in my opinion not great.

When are you going? Hope before August so you can check out some nice places for me

oh, if you are going to Epcot, they do have a few different little restaurants/snack stands located around 'the world'

Its part and parcel though isnt it unfortunately. I was heartily sick to the back teeth of plastic crap food by day 3.
We kinda went to walmart and shopped and cooked for ourselves a few times. Definitely took food with us to the parks as its dire crap and expensive to boot.
Problem was trolling around, walking miles in that ehat with a food hamper in toe....sheesh it was hard work.

Im sure there are nice places, but the chains kind of offered healthy stuff, the all you can eat buffets are very cheep and stocked well with salads & veg and fruit.
Its a fab place for holidays for kids

Thanks we definitely report back - We're going in June - Have discovered a Cuban place which looks interesting in Clermont - Troy's Cuban Deli and also Ritter's Frozen Custard would seem a good option for the small people. Have you been to either?

I know it's part and parcel, I will maintain a steely grin - we normally choose holiday destinations by food choices not by child friendly destinations, they are just expected to much in.

We're bringing packed lunch equipment just in case. My compromise on this trip was to get a villa rather than staying in a Disney so we could cook good food at home and to be honest escape the Disneyfication for a while.

The dcs better enjoy it!

The dcs will have an absolute ball, it is outstanding for kids. Best holiday destination for kids for us thus far.

There are allot of info leaflets where ever you go with maps on them, they are free and just about everywhere, so you may get a better idea when you get there.

Sooooo jelous

Orlando is not all plastic food by any means.

I would recommend a visit to I Drive (the part of I Drive south of Sandlake Road) where there is now a Brazilian restaurant called Fogo De Chao. It is a small chain that originated in Brazil and the food there is fab.

If you do go to EPCOT Bella Italia is nice but you do need to book this well in advance (this caveat applies to all their restaurants).

If you pick up a copy of Where magazine this also has restaurant recommendations.

There is Pointe Orlando on I Drive which has several up scale and non chain restaurants like The Capital Grille.

If you like Japanese would also recommend a visit to Hanamasuki on I Drive. Authentic Japanese cuisine and great service.

I Drive - this is downtown Disney isn't it? Is this park of the theme park - do you need disney tickets to enter - we don't want to activate our tickets on the day we arrive - do we need to go elsewhere?

On the subject of reserving tables....is it only the restaurants that provide table service that we need to book...will the quality of the food take a complete nosedive if we eat at counter service restaurants while at Disney, would prefer the flexibility to eat what we fancy based on what looks good - our dcs are pretty relaxed about eating times.

And do we need to make reservations midweek for local restaurants.

We'll probably take food with us into the parks at least for a few days - is there somewhere to sit and eat - a grassy area even, someone told me we'd really struggle with this.

Sorry for the daft questions but the whole concept of Disney is a complete mystery to me. I do want to plan the trip but I don't want to overplan...it makes me all boxed in & fidgety!

You need to just Roll with American food.
Stop over analyzing

I-drive is not the same as Downtown Disney. Downtown has a express restaurant by, er, the chef that caters the Oscars (sorry its been a few years) which might be a compromise.
If you can get a babysitter, book the chef's table for yourselves at the V&A. It'll set you back a few hundred dollars each, but is apparently the best food in Florida. (So say my parents who eat at expensive places all the time).

Wolfgang Puck! I finally remembered!

Oh and you don't need tickets to go to Downtown Disney. There is also a fabulous ice-cream parlour there?

"I Drive - this is downtown Disney isn't it? Is this park of the theme park - do you need disney tickets to enter - we don't want to activate our tickets on the day we arrive - do we need to go elsewhere?"

No, it has nothing to do with Disney. You are getting this mixed up with Downtown Disney. I Drive is short for International Drive which is one of the main roads in Orlando.

Re your comment:-
"On the subject of reserving tables....is it only the restaurants that provide table service that we need to book...will the quality of the food take a complete nosedive if we eat at counter service restaurants while at Disney, would prefer the flexibility to eat what we fancy based on what looks good - our dcs are pretty relaxed about eating times!.

Yes and you need to book quite a long time in advance. Another respondent has mentioned V & A. Dinner at Victoria and Alberts for instance would have needed a reservation made about 6 months prior to your visit to Orlando!.

"And do we need to make reservations midweek for local restaurants".
Not always necessary particularly on International Drive. Also Americans tend to eat earlier than here in the UK i.e dinner service in some places starts at 5pm.

"We'll probably take food with us into the parks at least for a few days - is there somewhere to sit and eat - a grassy area even, someone told me we'd really struggle with this"

Disney do frown on people taking their own food in particularly if it is in large cooler boxes. There are no grassy areas for people to sit down on (they do not let people sit on the grass!), you may find a bench but that is about it.

"They don't let people sit on the grass" oh help...am I entering hell? It's the fear of things like this that have really put me off. Our dcs better bloody appreciate the sacrafice I'm making.

Thanks for the info Attila So you don't book counter service restaurants do you? Have decided to save the gourmet eating for local treats ....6 months in advance?!!! I clearly have not over-analysed enough!

I'm with lumbago. Waaay over-analysing - and whatever you do, don't mention the 'sacrifice' to the kids. I have seen far too many parents at Disney yelling at their tired/queue exhausted/over-excited/moany/flopping on the floor kids

'This is Disney! Why are you crying? You're meant to be having fun!'

Also, it's America - you will always find something amazing to eat (have you never watched Man V Food?!).

Also - if you do your research you will see that you can escape Disney ('Islands of Adventure' are so much better btw) and take a fresh, foodie, organically prepared picnic here which is, as it says, minutes from downtown Orlando (round the back of a housing estate really) and is the most lovely state park with fab swimming and you only have to pay to park.

Thanks for the parenting advice Merrylegs

This post was not about eating in America - I have lived and had several holidays there before. It's about eating in a very touristy area - which is never great and it's about Disney who "don't allow you to sit on the grass" - that's weird but it's useful to know. And it's about finding a gem of a restaurant, somewhere quirky - an interesting local delicacy maybe, not necessarily somewhere expensive.

I know you said no chains, but Olive Garden is actually really nice! Gorgeous pastas.

Thanks chops - dd loves her pasta and needs at least a weekly fix.

Try Restaurant Row on West Sand lake Drive. I think it is Junction 74a off the I4 - opposite side to I-Drive, There are some really nice restaurants along that stroip. Some are chain eg Morton's but the food is great for foodies.

if you google restaurant row you'll find loads of choices.

Can second the comment that somebody made about Wolfgang Puck in Downtown Disney. We had dinner in the cafe one evening and it was great food (one of the best Key Lime pies I've ever tasted). Although it's called the cafe it's actually a sit down restaurant. Most of the food places at Downtown Disney are poor and overpriced.

For great hot sandwiches which are a meal in themselves, The Earl of Sandwich is also very good - I love their tuna melts.

It's a pleasure (Come back and update in June and tell me you didn't hear a parent say that to their child at least once).

If you are keen to escape the 'disneyfication' my tip about the state park was genuine - we packed an amazing picnic, paid $10 to park and swam with turtles in a lagoon. Best day of the hol.

I would also reco mend that you consider going back to your villa for lunch. Even in June it is likely to equate hot,and a midday break could be really good.
We went last August,all lost weight and ate lots of healthy food,but did usually eat lunch at our villa. Lots of watermelon and fruit.
I would recommend reading something like the Unofficial guide, to prepare and help you do Disney without getting cranky.

Thanks Mummytime that sounds like a great solution. Will make a note of all the restaurant recommendations for the evening, thanks everyone - I have a plan I think I can live with!

Epcot World showcase has brilliant food choices, both Table serive and quick service, as do some of the Disney resort hotels.
Wolfgang puck, Portobello and House of blues are great at DTD.
Bubba Gump at Citywalk is good, as is Emerils.

When in the US , you have to have a Wendy's burger, they knock spots off any other burgers.

Texas de Brazil is at the top end of I drive and does fab steaks.

I'm looking forward to all the Disney food I can eat and expect to eat my own weight in Cheesecake when we are there in 3 weeks time . The joys of free Dining.

Any of the top end Disney restaurants need booking months in advance, we couldn't get Le Cellier at Epcot when I wanted it and that was 180 days + 10 out ! ( that's when Disney resort guests can start to book)

I can highly recommend Yak and Yeti in Animal Kingdom, Wolfgang puck at DTD and Teppan edo in Japan ( world showcase).

If you like Mexican try Chilis - there's loads near Disney. I know it's technically a chain but the food is fab, fresh and they are very accommodating (always make veggie fajitas to order.....) We have tried several stand-along non-chain Mexican restaurants in Florida and always conclude that Chilis is the nicest....

Bahama Breeze (caribbean influenced food - fab!) and the cheesecake factory. Both non-disney and great menus/ childrens food/cocktails/drinks and atmosphere.