Address	142 E. 4th Ave.
City	Mount Dora
Phone	352-385-1921
Price	$$$$
Scott's Review

The restaurant occupies an old house, built circa 1921, across the street from the Modernism Museum in the quaint downtown. In partnership with the museum and Main Street Leasing, which is listed as the “presenter” of the museum, 1921 becomes part of the artistic complex that also includes the museum’s shop (every museum has to have a shop), which shares an adjoining patio with the restaurant.... Read more

Address	6714 Tqvistock Lakes Boulevard
City	Orlando
Phone	407-675-2000
Price	$$$
Scott's Review

Located in the Lake Nona Wave Hotel, Bacán is vibrantly upscale in both decor and cuisine. Go early and walk through the sculpture garden with a glass of wine or cocktail before heading in to dinner.... Read more

Address	325 S. Orange Ave. Grand Bohemian Hotel
City	Orlando
Phone	407-581-4700
Price	$$$$
Scott's Review

The Boheme has grown into a more consistent fine dining experience but now is trying to position itself as more accessible. Try the Kessler calamari, a silly name for a delicious appetizer, and follow with the lamb duet or the Chilean sea bass. The kitchen also has a way with scallops.

A special treat about dinner here is that most nights there is entertainment in the rotunda just outside the dining room, and the music easily wafts in. If you arrive early, have a seat in the lounge, listen to the music, and enjoy the stories of the affable bartenders.

It should also be noted that the Boheme (and by the way it's pronounced boh-HEEM and not like the name of the Puccini opera) also serves a very nice Sunday jazz brunch.

... Read more

Address	14200 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane
City	Orlando
Phone	407-597-5500
Price	$$$$
Scott's Review

The Orlando Waldorf Astoria was the first one to be built outside of Manhattan and it was the only one to have an edition of the original's Bull & Bear steakhouse. With the New York hotel and its restaurants currently closed for renovations, Orlando's Bull & Bear is the only one. (Rumors are that when the NYC hotel reopens, B&B will not.) And it offers a singular dining experience, one of the few remaining fine dining restaurants in town. Superb service, excellent food, elegant surroundings.... Read more

Address	220 Brevard Ave.
City	Cocoa
Phone	321-639-8343
Price	$$$

Cafe Margaux, a French restaurant in Cocoa, is an odd little place with delicious food. It wants to be an elegant restaurant, but it isn't, at least not one along the lines of a Victoria & Albert's or a Venetian Room. Let's just say its chic on a shoestring. But if the decor is a bit florid, the food is decidedly upscale, not really classic French, but with French tones that enhance a creative style. The best of the entrees was the melange of fresh fish, offered each evening as a sampler of the three fish specials. When I visited, the chef had prepared poached salmon, snapper with a potato crust and blackened dolphin. My guest liked the dolphin best because the blackening seasonings were perfectly balanced with the mild taste of the fish, giving just a bit of cayenne spiciness. I liked the crispiness of the shredded potato crust on the snapper. This is the sister restaurant to Ulysses' Steakhouse, also wonderful.

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Address	Rosen Shingle Creek Resort 9939 Universal Blvd.
City	Orlando
Phone	407-996-9939
Price	$$$$
Scott's Review

The food here is deliciously good, and the atmosphere is grandiloquent. But the prices are a bit steep, apparently geared toward the expense-accounted business traveler.

Seafood pescatore features a saffron seasoned fish stock tinged with tomato, with an abundance of seafood, including an Australian lobster tail, two impressively plump scallops, shrimp, clams and mussels. Under it all was a nest of fresh pappardelle pasta.

The al dente ribbons were part of my companion’s entrée of pappardelle ai bistecche, which was listed under the menu’s pasta heading, though in truth this was a steak dish. It featured 10 ounces of New York strip from Harris Ranch, cooked to a perfect medium-rare and sliced, the noodles piled on top with a sauce of mushrooms and tomato ragout. Quite nice.

We had started our meal with the mozzarella stuffed Bella meatballs, three bocce ball-sized orbs of moist ground meat braised in Barolo wine. The meatballs were more enjoyable than the calamari fritte, which was a little too damp.

Service was exceptional.

... Read more

Address	9840 International Drive Rosen Centre Hotel
City	Orlando
Phone	407-996-9840
Price	$$$$
Scott's Review

One of the area’s most under appreciated restaurants, Everglades continues to offer high-quality fare. The Alligator Bay chowder is a terrific starter soup, and the swordfish is a southern inspiration

... Read more

Address	8030 Via Dellagio Way
City	Orlando
Phone	407-352-5706
Price	$$$$

The Restaurant Row Fleming's does a nice job with its steaks, but it has a big following for its happy hour, which includes a terrific burger at a killer price. Wines are a forte here, so spend a little of what you save on the bar snacks for something special from the grape.... Read more