Welcome to Scott Joseph's Foodster Awards for Independent Restaurants.
MOOR, the seafood restaurant at Gaylord Palms with a sailboat setting, is the readers’ choice for the 2017 Best Hotel Restaurant Foodster Award.
Second place goes to MOOR’s cross-atrium neighbor Old Hickory Steakhouse. Close behind, Eleven at Reunion took third.
MOOR is the excellent restaurant under the culinary direction of its ironically named chef, Phillip Fisher. I reviewed it in 2015. And last year, we hosted a progressive Supper Club that began at the Everglades inspired Old Hickory for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from chef George Yiu and his team then proceeded to MOOR for the multi-coursed main event. Food, staff and ambience were terrific at both, so I can’t argue a bit with your choice.
I also liked Eleven when I reviewed it in November. And I hope to return soon to see what changes newly installed chef de cuisine Jake Brenchley has initiated. (Early word sounds great.)
The restaurants listed here are nominated in the Best Hotel Restaurant category. They represent the best of independent restaurants found in hotels and resorts around Central Florida.
Please note that while many of the hotels are indeed chain brands, the restaurants that are nominated fit the Foodster Awards' definition of independent with three or fewer locations. Indeed, most are unique to Central Florida.
To vote, click the box next to your favorite and then click the VOTE button. You may vote for only one candidate. If you have already voted, the VOTE button will no longer appear.
You are welcome to write in the name of a hotel restaurant you'd like to vote for by clicking the Write In button. But double check to verify that your candidate's name doesn't already appear in the list -- duplicates, and businesses that don't fit the definition of independent, will be deleted.
Voting in this category will continue through midnight on April 5, 2017. The winner will be announced in the April 6 edition of Scott's e-letter.
Leave a comment telling us why you voted for your selection -- Scott might quote you when the winner is announced (be sure to say which restaurant you voted for in your comment or we won't know who you're talking about).
