Restaurant Listings
Beth's Burger Bar
Address24 E. Washington St.
CityOrlando
Phone407-650-4950
Price$
Scott's Review
A humorless young woman took my order: single patty, swiss cheese, classic fries. To my request to have the burger prepared medium-rare, she responded, “They come out medium anyway,” as if that were the same thing. It’s not, of course. The same unsmiling woman was assigned to deliver my order, and she did so by walking through the dining area auctioning it off to the first person who would answer to my name, this even though all previous orders had already been delivered, only two other orders were placed after mine, and I was the only single diner among them, sitting alone in a restaurant that was largely empty. The burger was largely forgettable, though I liked the toastiness of the bun. The meat, however, was dry, as overcooked meat tends to be. The fries were above average.... Read more
Bice
AddressPortofino Bay
5601 Universal Blvd.
CityOrlando
Phone407-503-1415
Price$$$$
Scott's Review

Dinner at Bice is not an inexpensive night out. But when you consider cost vs. quality, you’ll find that Bice is not overpriced.

Just consider the restaurant’s signature dish, ravioli stuffed with beef short ribs and spinach. The pasta was delicately thin and tender, and the braised meat inside had a rich, fatty mouthfeel that blossomed with the sauce of mushrooms and Marsala wine. Absolute heaven.

Or another from the list of primi piatti, big, fat tortellini filled with spinach and ricotta and dressed with a sauce of butter and sage.

From the secondi my companion had the scalloppine di vitello, flattened medallions of veal sauteed with a darkly rich mushroom sauce and served with a timbale of potatoes similar to a potatoes Anna dish.

I chose a special of the evening that featured sea bass in parchment. Enclosed inside the envelope with zucchini, yellow squash, red and green peppers, and a few salty olives, the fish took on all the vegetable flavors while maintaining a fresh and moist texture. The taste was buttery and absolutely delicious.

Desserts are worth lingering over.

... Read more
Biergarten
AddressEpcot Germany Pavilion
1700 Epcot Resorts Boulevard
CityLake Buena Vista
Phone407-939-3463
Price$$$
It's Oktoberfest year round, although anyone who has been to the real deal in Munich won't have any trouble confusing the celebration here with the beer tents of Bavaria. Then again, you're not likely to have underage drinkers throwing up on your shoes at Epcot, so it balances out. The food is served on a buffet here and includes your basic bratwursts, red cabbage, spaetzle and such. It's kept tidy, and while nothing is extraordinary about the quality, the food is mostly palatable.... Read more
Big Easy
Address15502 Stoneybrook West Parkway
CityWinter Garden
Phone407-654-3279
Price$$
Scott's Review

The atmosphere at Big Easy is casual to the point of having a diner feel. The kitchen is open (you could easily see a row of stools there) and there are more windows than wall space for decorations, it seems. The bare-topped tables are a royal purple. Of course, some of the best food in New Orleans can be found in uber casual spaces.

But nothing I tasted at Big Easy had me longing to return. The gumbo was a more watery version, which is how many Louisianans prefer it -- less thickening in the roux. But it also didn’t have much characteristic flavor.

Neither did the jambalaya, which was also overly dry. Estelle’s crawfish etouffe (no, no idea who Estelle is) looked the way it is supposed to, more of a brown gravy. But it was just bland. Both entrees were served with cornbread that had a texture similar to pound cake, smooth rather than crumbly.

... Read more
Big Fin Seafood Kitchen
Address8046 Via Dellagio Way
Dellagio Town Center
CityOrlando
Phone407-615-8888
Price$$$
Scott's Review
There has been a change in ownership, but the original chef, James Slattery, remains. (He's also one of the new owners.) Quality of the seafood is first rate, the atmosphere fun and casual.... Read more
Big River Grille & Brewing Works
AddressDisney's BoardWalk
CityLake Buena Vista
Phone407-560-0253
Price$$
It’s much more interesting for its on-site beer brewing than the food, which is rather mundane. This is a non-Disney-owned restaurant, operated by Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Group out of Tennessee.... Read more
Bistro 1501
Address1501 International Parkway
CityLake Mary
Phone407-995-7053
Price
Scott's Review
Located in the Marriott hotel in Lake Mary (which for some reason is called the Orlando Marriott), this three-mealer is known to many locals for its brunch. My experience was not a good one, with quality taking a back seat to quantity. It's a bargain at $22.95 if all you want to do is stuff mediocre food in your face.... Read more
Bites & Bubbles
Address1618 N. Mills Ave.
CityOrlando
Phone407-270-5085
Price$$
Scott's Review
Despite the name there are more than just bites – a full dinner menu is available along with an extensive assortment of tapas and charcuterie options. And craft cocktails if bubbles aren't your thing.... Read more