Address | 9700 International Drive Rosen Plaza Hotel |
City | Orlando |
Phone | 407-996-1787 |
Price | $$$ |
Scott's Review |
Chef Michael McMullen has reenergized this upscale dining room with a new menu. Favorites include spicy shrimp and grits, maple horseradish mustard crusted baby rack of lamb, and cedar plank roasted sea bass. Service is among the best in town. The highlight of the dining room is the array of celebrity caricatures that cover the walls. They were done by Jack Rosen, father of hotelier Harris Rosen (hence the name of the restaurant), when he was employed by the Waldorf Astoria in New York.
... Read moreAddress | CityWalk Universal Orlando |
City | Orlando |
Phone | 407-224-2155 |
Price | $$ |
No, you definitely will be reminded of those lyrics, because if you spend more than 20 minutes in the restaurant you're sure to hear them. Heck, you could spend 20 minutes just trying to get a drink at the bar.
The theme here is the music of Jimmy Buffett and his parrothead paradise. Sorry, I don't know why his fans are called parrotheads. And I probably missed a lot of the insider jokes and other references to his songs that I'm unfamiliar with. The upstairs bar, for example, is probably called the 12-volt bar for some reason.
I have only a Top-40 knowledge of his songs. I enjoy his music, though two straight hours of it can be a bit much. I do know that many of his songs are either themed on food and drink, or contain references to them. So that part lends itself well to a restaurant theme. And the Key Westiness and island atmosphere of his songs add to the decor.
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Address | 4192 Conroy Road |
City | Orlando |
Phone | 407-226-1400 |
Price | $ |
Scott's Review |
Address | 1000 Universal Studios Plaza |
City | Orlando |
Phone | 407-363-8000 |
Price | $$ |
Scott's Review |
Address | Universal Studios |
City | Orlando |
Phone | 407-224-3613 |
Price | $$$ |
Address | Universal Studios Islands of Adventure |
City | Orlando |
Phone | 407-224-4534 |
Price | $$$ |
Scott's Review |
Mythos is one of only two full service restaurants at Islands of Adventure (Confisco Grille is the other). It wanted to be a fine dining restaurant when it first opened a decade ago, but that never happened. Of course, it's difficult to be a fine dining restaurant when you take your last reservations at 4:30 in the afternoon (the park closes at 6 p.m. most days).
But the atmosphere is pleasant, and the food is mostly good. Learn from my mistakes, though, and don't bother with anything fancy, like crabcake sliders. Go for the Mythos burger, a big, juicy thing with melted cheese and rashers of bacon. Then head immediately for the Incredible Hulk roller coaster. I dare you.
... Read moreAddress | 7040 International Drive (north of Sand Lake Road) |
City | Orlando |
Phone | 407-354-0026 |
Price | $$ |
Scott's Review |
Central Florida finally gets another chance to experience the wonderful world of Ethiopian cuisine. Don’t blow it this time! Wash your hands – you’ll be eating with them – and order an array of wat to sample. What? No, wat. It's a sort of stew, and wats are the most common dishes in an Ethiopian restaurant. These might include variations of beef or chicken, but pork is never served. There are a few seafood selections on Nile’s menu, but Ethiopia is a landlocked country and seafood dishes are not common. Vegetarian wat versions feature lentils or split peas. Ethiopian restaurants are wonderful places for vegetarians to dine as meatless meals are a big part of the country’s cultural heritage. If you feel lost, ask one of your gracious hosts to guide you.
Coffee is Ethiopia’s top commodity and the coffee ceremony is a big part of a traditional meal. The coffee service area occupies a space in the front of the dining room. The whole beans are roasted in a small metal saucepan while incense burns nearby. When the beans are roasted the pan is brought to the table and waved about so the guests can enjoy the aroma. Once the beans are ground and brewed, the coffee is poured from ... Read more
Address | Pointe Orlando 9101 International Drive |
City | Orlando |
Phone | 407-363-4801 |
Price | $$$$ |
Scott's Review |
The promise of a good seafood restaurant has sailed into Central Florida aboard The Oceanaire. The Oceanaire Seafood Room is meant to take you back in time, with its interior that suggests a 1930s ocean liner.
Sample some of the fresh fish selections after you enjoy the crab cake appetizer. On one visit, my companion had the wahoo, or ono, a mild fish similar to the mackerel. On another visit, there was a monkfish from Georges Bank. It had the characteristic texture that mimics lobster meat but was a thick steak cut with the center cord intact. Not the prettiest presentation, but quite good.
It’s a bit pricey, but quality is worth paying for.
The Oceanaire brand was recently purchased by the Landry's Seafood organization, but so far it seems the quality is being maintained.
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