British tastes

[trevorsem]

So , what's your favourite place to eat in Orlando?

For me:

Breakfast:

Angels Diner - Niki Bird - US192
Ponderosa - US192
Sizzler - US192

Dinner:

Ponderosa - US192
Sizzler - US192
Sonnys BBQ pit - US192
A taste of Little Italy - US192

And if you only learn two things on your trip they must be:

1) Don't order a starter as portions are massive
2) Try different eateries

:bounce: :bounce:


Trev

[Redkop]

for brekkie its got to be Bob Evans......i can almost smell the coffee

for dinner its got to be Rainforest Cafe or Tony Roma's om I Drive for the baby back ribs.......ok i am drooling just thinkin about it

chris

105 days till WDW and 112 till the Wedding

[trevorsem]

Originally posted by redkop
for brekkie its got to be Bob Evans......i can almost smell the coffee

for dinner its got to be Rainforest Cafe or Tony Roma's om I Drive for the baby back ribs.......ok i am drooling just thinkin about it

chris

105 days till WDW and 112 till the Wedding

Tried Bob Evans. Nice, simple, but filling.

How's Tony Roma's on the wallet. Looked expensive in their ad

Trev

[Redkop]

not expensive if you go around 3pm and they still have the lunch menu on and the portions are the same size

Chris

105 days till WDW and 112 till the Wedding

[Lavenderlamb]

You just can't beat breakfast at Ponderosa, they have absolutely everything you could possibly want and more!

Dinner, hmmm. The steak in Ponderosa is very nice too, as is Damons ribs, they're to die for!

Not very impressed with Sizzler last time we went for dinner, the place was really messy and the quality wasn't too hot.

[trevorsem]

Originally posted by Lavenderlamb
You just can't beat breakfast at Ponderosa, they have absolutely everything you could possibly want and more!

Dinner, hmmm. The steak in Ponderosa is very nice too, as is Damons ribs, they're to die for!

Not very impressed with Sizzler last time we went for dinner, the place was really messy and the quality wasn't too hot.

The little nugget I found last time was The Golden Corral on US192. They have everything (and I mean everything). Not the cheapest, but with regard to quantity and acceptable quality, they are worth a go.

:bounce:

Trev

[uscwest]

Having eaten a "steak???" in the UK I can see why you folks like Sizzler and Golden Corral. However, these steaks can not begin to hold a candle to a real Midwestern Beef or Angus Beef steak found at some of the better steak houses. Of course you will also pay the price.

[OKWTink]

If you are going to have your evening meal at a Golden Corral, try the one on Vineland near Bahama Breeze (not the one on west 192). It is newer, and tends to be better.

You can upgrade your enjoyment of steak without costing a fortune by trying an Outback. The steak will be much better than any buffet.

If you want a truly wonderful meal featuring steak, try Key W Cools on west 192.

I'm with redkop. Bob Evans has the best breakfasts for that price bracket!

[OKWTink]

Hang tight. We're skipping off to the Dining board. You may get many more responses there!

[Keith]

I liked the ponderosa too... AMAZING amount of UK'ers there last time I went, was funny :)

Thing is, second time I went, the taxi driver took me to a different one which wasn't nearly as good (about half the buffet that the first one had).

Which is the best ponderosa to ask for?

[kiltedwarrior]

Ive come across quite a few gems down on 192 when ive stayed in Kissimmee. First on the list is The Black Angus Steak House (also located on I-drive, across from W&W) quite simply the best steak ive come across, definately worth a look in!
Next up, The Outback Steakhouse. Aussie themed restraunt but beware! portions here are somewhat HUGE :D reccommend sharing a starter, they have (or did have) the 'Blooming Onion' has to be seen to be believed! Ruby Tuesday was another nice restraunt on 192. On I-Drive, Ponderosa cant be beaten especially for lunch and have a wide selsection of steaks too.:D

[american idol]

i'm kind of 'off' ponderosa's at the moment, have you Brits tried OLive garden - it's italian yummy;)

[OKWTink]

If you like Olive Garden, rookie, you should like Carrabbas and Romano's. They are essentially the same style, just some different selections. Carrabbas is owned by the Outback corporation. One is on 192 west and one is on Kirkman, north of Universal. There is also one by Florida Mall.

Romano's is on 535, a left on 535 when facing the Crossroads Plaza.

Can't help much with Ponderosa KeithOP. Knew someone who once worked at one and have never been able to eat there since. :(

[american idol]

thanks tink, has there been a new mall opened in orlando i thought i saw something about it if so is it worth going or is it expensive? i'm into bargains!;)

[Keith]

Tink,

ah :( point taken..... I did kinda wonder but it was a change from disney food so I kinda enjoyed it.

[OKWTink]

The new mall is the Mall at Millenia and it is definitely not a bargain place, unless you consider $20,000 (to start) necklaces a bargain! It is a high end retail mall with places like Tiffany's and Bloomingdales. I really will get there one day to give a report here on the boards, but haven't yet found the courage to brave the place.

They actually offer valet parking!

KeithOP didn't mean to offend, and certainly never want to detract from someone's enjoyment of a place. Sometimes restaurant employees need to keep some of the trade secrets to themselves!

[renkadima]

Fully concur on Bob Evans (fab pancakes) and Rainforest Cafe (good food, fair prices, and monkeys!). Have been meaning to try one of those all-you-can-eat-Lobster jobs. Anybody tried them?

[disneytracy]

i love going to the waffle house on 27, sitting by counter with all the locals, its really good fun.

[OKWTink]

<sigh> Yes, I've tried them. Boston Lobster Feast on I-Drive and 192 (a newer one) and Florida Mall and Angel's on 192 at Holiday Inn Nikki Bird Suites.

The seafood is very low grade. Small lobsters that are terribly overcooked. How often can you boast that you've eaten tough lobster? How often would you want to? ;) The snow crab legs are somewhat better, but again small and overcooked which makes them difficult to get out of the shell. The clams are pretty disgusting. Full of grit and dirt. The oysters rockefeller are ok, but too heavily covered with spinach and cheese to actually taste the seafood.

The lobster salad was my favorite item. The flavor was fresh and the lobster didn't seem quite as overcooked. They tend to run out of this early though.

The beef is pretty rare. If you like it that way, you should be ok with this selection.

The fried choices aren't bad, but I don't care for fried food, especially seafood. But it was hot and crispy and didn't seem soggy with oil.

I really don't intend to visit these places again, unless I have company that insists. I find the cost pretty high in comparison with the quality. Roughly $30 per person (unless you go very early for $25) which does include one drink.

Please keep in mind that I am very particular about seafood and would prefer to cook my own at home. I also prefer cold water seafood over that which comes from the warm Florida waters, with the exception of rock shrimp (Love it!).

Sorry for the poor response, but I just really didn't like these places. :(

[Keith]

Tink! Absolutely no offense taken ;-)

what I really meant was that I could imagine what an employee of ponderosa might say.. <gulp>

However,.... not going to Millinia Mall is perhaps more unforgiveable ;-)

[OKWTink]

:blush: :blush: I know!

Hang in there Keith, I'll get there. The Apple store is calling to me!

[Keith]

Exactly the same store that's calling me! (Unless Helen's watching in which case it's bloomingdales... HONEST!)

[trevorsem]

Originally posted by KeithOP
I liked the ponderosa too... AMAZING amount of UK'ers there last time I went, was funny :)

Thing is, second time I went, the taxi driver took me to a different one which wasn't nearly as good (about half the buffet that the first one had).

Which is the best ponderosa to ask for?

I have found the best one to be along US192, close to Captain Nemo's and the old Fort Liberty location.

:thumbs:

Trev

[trevorsem]

Originally posted by KeithOP
Tink! Absolutely no offense taken ;-)

what I really meant was that I could imagine what an employee of ponderosa might say.. <gulp>

However,.... not going to Millinia Mall is perhaps more unforgiveable ;-)

I think we all know someone who works in the food industry somewhere. What my Wife says about Asda... well that's another story! - lol

Best policy is what we don't know, don't hurt! - lol


:rolleyes:

Trev

[Dawn]

I've been to the Ponderosa on I-drive a couple of times. The first time breakfast was ok for the price. The second time breakfast had totally changed and appeared to cater to the British tourist (tinned tomatoes) which is totally not what I go to another country for.

I'd rather drive down 192 for some Krispy Kremes. :thumbs:

[Redkop]

I do wonder why people go to other countries and expect to eat the same food as at home.....when i was last there in 98 we were in the Hard Rock Cafe and the special of the day was Fish and Chips......please.....give me rib, steak and when i go to new mexico some good old green chilis on my cheesburger from Macs and dont hold back on the guacolomone (when i cant spell big words)

Chris

104 days till WDW and 111 till the wedding

[trevorsem]

Originally posted by redkop
I do wonder why people go to other countries and expect to eat the same food as at home.....when i was last there in 98 we were in the Hard Rock Cafe and the special of the day was Fish and Chips......please.....give me rib, steak and when i go to new mexico some good old green chilis on my cheesburger from Macs and dont hold back on the guacolomone (when i cant spell big words)

Chris

104 days till WDW and 111 till the wedding

I guess it's down to what you are used to. Not everyone is willing to experiment. I personally hate crispy bacon, but am safe with the knowledge there are plenty more stuff to try. When you go to Orlando you have to try different things. It would be a travisty not to!

Trev

[ElaineA]

We started off by loving Ponderosa until we bumped into a lady who recommended Golden Corral......I'm so glad she did! I thought it was brilliant what you could have for $9.99. In fact, I had a Golden Corral lunch just yesterday!! I flew back from my Orlando honeymoon this morning :( We also quite liked Pizzeria Uno on I-Drive....went there a few times and became quite a fan!

[ElaineA]

Forgot to say about a weird food thing I had over in Orlando....I had a chicken burger except when it came over, it was actually a chicken burger in a scone!! i think its known as a biscuit over there and I just found it a very weird combination!!

[american idol]

YEAH THAT'LL BE A BISCUIT, I LOVE THEM GOOD WITH EGG HAM AND CHEESE!!!

[OKWTink]

Mmmmmmmmmm! Biscuits with sausage gravy! Good, good good!

But, when I was in Ireland, I absolutely loved their version of breakfast, and there wasn't a biscuit or a speck of sausage gravy in sight.

There were plates of broiled tomatoes though. I was a bit surprised by that. I know in China, they served chopped cold tomato with scrambled egg, but these were just plates of tomatoes.

I particularly loved the plates of cold meat (lovely moist chicken) and little pots of pate. Oh, and the perfectly cooked sunny side up eggs, and the thick toast and the bacon, just adore Irish bacon, and the black pudding, spicey and tasty and...oh well you get the idea! :blush:

For someone who doesn't usually eat breakfast, I certainly enjoyed that meal during my visit! :D :D

[Belle24]

OK - Just got back from the Wonderful world so I can taste the best meals I had there !!!!

The first place I would recommend - anytime of day, is Dennys. Just your average diner (well - average as for as the US goes - out of the ordinary if you're a brit !!). The food was delicious but different to the sort of stuff we get here in the UK.

I had Moons over my hammy which you just HAVE to try. I think its a breakfast dish but I had it for lunch one day and it was the best !!! It was soft dough bread, with swiss cheese (which was all 'melty'), smoked ham and scrambled eggs (kinda in a sandwich) and they you get a choice of fries, grits or hash browns (I had the hash browns) and my taste buds had never been so excited !!! My boyfriend had the French Toast (yes - at lunch time !!) was is cinnamon french toast, sausages and bacon, with yummy maple syrup - of course I had to try a bit of that too !!! No wonder I rolled home this year !!! The quality and service is superb and the bill was only about $15 (drinks included). You have to try this place - Yummy !

To go out for dinner we found a lovely Italian called Italiannis on I Drive. Excellent Pasta in an authentic yet comfortable atmosphere... with a cheese sauce to die for - I thought my boyfriend was going to pass out when he tried it !!!

And the bread rolls you get at the start of your meal ? Don't even get me started - its a huge freshly baked roll that is lovely and warm, and you dip it into garlic oil - its just divine. Our total bill ( meal plus 2 beers and a soft drink) was $26. No more to say - you just cant beat it... SO EAT IT !!

[OKWTink]

Belle24 glad you had such good experiences with your meals! It's always a good thing to be able to find affordable meals that taste good! I've wondered about Italianni's on I-Drive. With your favorable review, I'll have to try it!

I have to say this though, and you'll forgive me in advance? I wouldn't eat in a Denny's again if it were the last place on earth and I were starving. Absolutely nothing to do with the quality of food and everything to do with politics, so to speak.

[trevorsem]

Originally posted by ElaineA
We started off by loving Ponderosa until we bumped into a lady who recommended Golden Corral......I'm so glad she did! I thought it was brilliant what you could have for $9.99. In fact, I had a Golden Corral lunch just yesterday!! I flew back from my Orlando honeymoon this morning :( We also quite liked Pizzeria Uno on I-Drive....went there a few times and became quite a fan!

Which Golden Corral did you try? I have only been to the one on US192 and thought it was brilliant. Such variety and good value for money.

Trev

[Lavenderlamb]

I have to admit, we went to Denny's once and have all vowed never to eat there again.

Perhaps it was just a one off, or maybe just that particular restaurant, but the food was appalling, and it takes a lot for me to say something as harsh as that. The restaurant was filthy and the girl who was serving us was obviously having a bad day, as she snapped our heads off when ordering our food.

It was on our first visit to Florida, and one of the first places we went to eat, which nearly put us off the place for life! Thank goodness we didn't take that experience as a general picture of the hospitality we would encounter.

[trevorsem]

Originally posted by Lavenderlamb
I have to admit, we went to Denny's once and have all vowed never to eat there again.

Perhaps it was just a one off, or maybe just that particular restaurant, but the food was appalling, and it takes a lot for me to say something as harsh as that. The restaurant was filthy and the girl who was serving us was obviously having a bad day, as she snapped our heads off when ordering our food.

It was on our first visit to Florida, and one of the first places we went to eat, which nearly put us off the place for life! Thank goodness we didn't take that experience as a general picture of the hospitality we would encounter.

I have always enjoyed Dennys. Bit basic, but overall okay.

:eek:

Trev

[Belle24]

I'm sorry to hear that there were a couple of bad experiences at Dennys. Heres me saying how fab I thought it was ! But it really was !!

We went twice and both times it was just as good. The first time the waitress couldn't do enuf for us and the second waitress would stop calling us both 'sweetie'. We loved it.

Oh well - it wouldn't do if we all liked the same now would it !?!!

[american idol]

we've had excellent food at Dennys and OMG are we all gonna get salmonella food there, i think it all depends on the management, most places seem to be franchises:)

[alexa07]

I was in London a few years ago for two weeks for work. The law offices that we were working at had their own chef and the food she made for me was yummy. But I was pregnant and after the first week I really started craving American food. My boss took pity on me and we went to Hard Rock Cafe the next few nights. I felt kind of bad about being so provinicial but that little one inside of me seemed much happier. LOL

[Fran]

Always found Dennys excellent value and very clean. A really good stop for food that doesn't cost more for the decor and a big help in saving dollars for important Disney stuff. Although have found some of the cheaper McDonalds, Burger King, Wendys type near to I Drive are very much lower standard than others with occasionally unhelpful staff and dingy surroundings.

[OKWTink]

As I said, it's not the quality of Denny's food that keeps me away. I refuse to patronize any business when I am aware that they discriminate against people based on the color of their skin and or religion. Having been the recipient of Denny's discriminatory practices, I won't give them another cent of my money. Simple as that.

[american idol]

what happenned tink or can't you say?

[Redkop]

hey good for you tink.........stick to your principles and if its a real bad thing that happened to you then denys is off my holiday list.....i hate companies that are predustice (sorry if i spelt it wrong)

Chris

93!!!!days till WDW and only 100 days till the Wedding

[OKWTink]

Everyone has a right to dine where ever they please. :)

rookie, without going into gruesome, excrutiating detail, I'll tell you this. I was in King of Prussia Pennsylvania (working a trade show there). I went into Denny's for breakfast (convenient to the hotel and a change of pace from the hotel restaurant). Based upon the jewelry I was wearing the employees there determined that I was a member of a religious group that they did not want in their restaurant (I was wearing a Mogan David and a c'hai).

In Fort Myers (southwest Florida) a group of off duty African American prison guards went to Denny's for breakfast. They were refused service based on the color of their skin.

Denny's has been sued at the federal level, given the comprehensive nature of their discriminatory practices, and the "problems" are supposed to be taken care of now, but I still can't bring myself to go into one.

Besides, I've had several friends describe unpleasant incidences even now, after the "settling of the lawsuit."

redkop, thank you for your kind words. But, please don't put yourself to any trouble or inconvenience! It's enough to know that you understand my position.

Now, let's take this thread away from such gloomy matters and get back to the original purpose, talking good places to eat!

Anyone tried any of the restaurants in Celebration? I've been to the seafood one (in the tavern, not the full service in the back of the building) and the Colombia. The seafood restaurant was ok with regard to freshness of the food, but the service was wonderful. The server gave me a cup of soup to "taste" and see if I liked it before ordering! I'd go there again, but would only get something simple like fried clams, etc.

The Colombia I'm still trying to decide. The first time I went I was really impressed, but then the giddy wore off. Went just recently and am less sure. The server brought the wrong sangria (more expensive version and I liked it less than the house version) and the food wasn't too great.

Anyone else?

[american idol]

nuff said tink, i think though that we should boycott companies that treat people unfairly- how else is anything going to actually change?

did you say sangria?????? my fav!!!:D

[Redkop]

Hey now celebration wasn't even on my things to do so i might have to wander out there...........thanks tink

Chris

92 !!!!!days till WDW and only.....99!!! till the Wedding

[WooGuin]

For breakfask it has to be Sizzler, they have proper baked beans.....!!!!!

It's nice to try all of the different cuisines available on a night.

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[disneymeces]

Having eaten a "steak???" in the UK I can see why you folks like Sizzler and Golden Corral. However, these steaks can not begin to hold a candle to a real Midwestern Beef or Angus Beef steak found at some of the better steak houses. Of course you will also pay the price.


So funny, my dh feels the same. The UK steaks just aren't like at home. My dh won't eat steak at a sizzler or golden coroal, likes the buffet but prefers a real steakhouse steak to a buffet eatery.

[psdjmem]

I am so hungry after reading this thread ..... anyone have any good chinese resturants they can recommend!

[fyfe9]

For me breakfast has to be Ponderosa, i love the food there. i haven't really been to a place like this in the UK.

For dinner there's a small place called Sweet Tomatoes, absolutely amazing place!!! all you can eat buffet that only serves fruit, veg and salads. They also do pizza, pasta and some other stuff. I went to orlando for two weeks and in that short time i must've gone there at least 6 times. look out for it, sorry i don't know it's actual location.

As for a steak......you come to Aberdeen and i'll cook you up a nice Aberdeen Angus Steak anytime.

[renkadima]

Blimey - a thread resurrected after two years! Must have taken some trawling to find it. :wink:

It gives me, therefore, the opportunity to relate two recent discoveries. First off, the Outback Steakhouse and particularly the Bloomin Onion - the mouth drools just thinking about it. The other marvellous place for dinner (or a big lunch) is Red Lobster. The food is superb and rather volumous. Tip - don't eat for a couple of days before going. In between the appetizer and the entree (starter and main course in Imperial units) you are given a humungous house salad and unlimited melt-in-the-mouth cheese biscuits. The walk back to the villa took a lot longer that night!:rotfl:

[fyfe9]

i was searching the forums for tips on eating out and found this one and couldn't resist adding my thoughts!! :P

[TR_Wolf]

I liked the ponderosa too... AMAZING amount of UK'ers there last time I went, was funny :)

Thing is, second time I went, the taxi driver took me to a different one which wasn't nearly as good (about half the buffet that the first one had).

Which is the best ponderosa to ask for?

Curious... does anyone know the cheapest and easiest method for us to get from All Stars Music to Ponderosa? We're on a really little budget you see. Any idea how much the taxi would be (one-way, we'll just double the price for return).

For us its going to either be the ASMu food court (but we'd prefer a buffet), or messing about finding a nice cheap buffet like Ponderosa and getting there and back without it being too expensive (ie if it's 10 dollars each for the food court, or 4 dollars each for a buffet but its a 20 dollar taxi, then its not worth it etc)

We'd quite like to try a few food places on I-Drive etc for dinner etc too, but we dont have a hire car, so it makes things considerably harder :( (we just cant afford a hire car, and bf's had to send off for the paper bit of his license again cos he lost it, but he hasnt got the new one yet and the trip's coming up)