Address	2316 Black Hammock Fish Camp Road
City	Oviedo
Phone	407-365-2702
Price	$

Black Hammock sits on the shore of Lake Jessup, which has the distinction of being home to the largest number of relocated “nuisance” gators. This is not a place where you want to take a swim. It’s also not a restaurant for you if you’re queasy about fried food. That’s the forte here. You can have frogs legs, various types of fish, or, in a delightful twist, gator tail. Chomp them before they chomp you.

... Read more

Address	700 Bloom St.
City	Celebration
Phone	407-566-6000
Price	$$$

It turns out that it is at the Bohemian Hotel Celebration, a sister hotel (or maybe it’s a brother; I always have trouble determining the sex of lodging) to the Grand Bohemian in downtown Orlando. Of course the restaurant there is called the Boheme, and you find it by walking through the bar and under the piano rotunda to the ornately designed dining room. Step inside the front door of the Celebration hotel and you’re in the lobby, and, apparently, also in the dining room. A bar is off the the side and there are several tables with glasses and flatware, the sort of setting that I, as a trained observer, immediately recognize as places to eat. The sausage was really quite good, and if it were available as an entree I would have gladly made it my main course. The texture was surprisingly smooth, almost like a boudin, and there were several nice spice notes. It seems to me that making sausage is one of the best uses for gator meat, which can be a little tough. Best seating is outside at the lakefront patio.... Read more

Address	4600 N. World Drive
City	Lake Buena Vista
Phone	407-939-3463
Price	$$$$
Scott's Review

After more than a dozen years at the top, literally and figuratively, California Grill is still one the Central Florida’s best restaurants. Much of the concept of California Grill has not changed over the years, and the menu still features, as it has for much of the time, flatbreads and sushi as well as more traditional appetizers. The menu supposedly changes daily, though with three weeks separating my two most recent visits, I noticed most of the changes were in the wording and ranking of ingredients rather than completely different entries.

Service is impeccable and exemplary of the best that Disney can offer. The wine list focuses, as it should, on California and other American cuvees.

The pork tenderloin remains a favorite, but the filet mignon is a contender for best entrée. Sushi from master chef Yoshi is a treat.

Of course the best feature remains the view through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Seven Seas Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom. And at the appropriate hour the lights dim slightly and the music that accompanies the Magic Kingdom's fireworks display plays in the restaurant. It’s one of the best shows in town.

... Read more

Address	10100 Dream Tree Blvd.
City	Lake Buena Vista
Phone	407-313-7777
Price	$$$$
Scott's Review

Despite the Four Seasons Resort location, this signature restaurant is not white-glove elegant, another indication that type of fine dining is fading. But the food here is excellent, and the surroundings are stylishly artistic. Out on the balcony you you watch fireworks every night.... Read more

Address	3401 S. Atlantic Ave.
City	New Smyrna Beach
Phone	904-423-8787
Price	$$
Scott's Review

Let’s go to the beach! Aw, come on, it’ll be fun; I’ll drive. Chases on the Beach is not a destination restaurant itself, but if the beach is your destination, Chases is a good place to grab a meal. The cheeseburger is fine for lunch. For dinner, try the grouper or the scallops. (Ask the cook to put the crab cake on the side).

Chases is named for the owner Chase Breiner (although there is no apostrophe in the name; go figure.) An old hotel was previously on the site. According to the restaurant manager, local laws say you can rebuild only on an existing foundation, so the restaurant complex has an odd look and shape, with various buildings and levels.

It serves as a sort of mini-play-ground/food and drink emporium. The food is a basic compilation of seafood dinners and beach-food sandwiches. I wouldnt make a special trip just to have the food. But this is a good place to grab a bite if your day involves a trip to New Smyrna Beach .

... Read more

Address	Epcot Living Seas Pavilion Walt Disney World
City	Lake Buena Vista
Phone	407-939-3463
Price	$$$$

There are few restaurants in the world that can boast an underwater view of a saltwater tank with dozens of species swimming by. The Orlando area has two (the other is Sharks Underwater Grill at SeaWorld), but neither seems to be able to offer food that matches the splendor of the view. In fact, given the ridiculously high menu prices and the lackluster quality of the food, I do not recommend Coral Reef as a restaurant. Better to view the sea life from the other side of the aquarium and fine somewhere else to sup.... Read more

Address	7593 Gathering Road
City	Kissimmee
Phone	407-662-1170
Price	$$$
Scott's Review

The name refers to its location on the top floor of the Reunion Grande hotel. Great views of distant theme park fireworks, and good steaks to boot.... Read more

Address	601 S. New York Ave.
City	Winter Park
Phone	407-228-3898
Price	$

The menu here is 100 percent vegan. On a recent visit I ordered a cup of spinach and portobello soup and the ironically named healthy trio for starters. The healthy trio was a reference to three dips: hummus, tomato-mango salsa and a tapenade made with black and green olives. They were served with slightly toasted bread that had big hunks of seeds and grains embedded, plus thick blue corn tortilla chips. It was all pretty tasty. Ethos is across from Ivanhoe Lake and has a large covered patio with perhaps more seating than inside. Indoors the walls are covered with works by local artists, and beyond the ordering counter the room wraps around for additional inside seating.... Read more