Food For Thought

By Lisa Ridgely, Contributing Editor

Orlando dining benefits from its geographic location — being on the Gulf Coast makes it the perfect place for seafood lovers, and it's cultural mix of fresh fish, delicious produce and Latin flavors meld a fantastic regional cuisine. Adding to the appeal of a great meal out is the trend of buying and eating local produce and meats — which many restaurants do these days.

The fact that Orlando is home to so many themeparks — and therefore, so many tourists — also ensures that the restaurants choices will be more exciting, as many have themes themselves and cater to the millions of tourists visiting every year.

Despite all this, there is a prevalence of "New American" cuisine at many Orlando restaurants that is sure to offer creative twists on traditional dishes that all can enjoy.

Seafood & Sushi

Big Fin Seafood Kitchen
8046 Via Dellagio Way
407-615-8888 • www.bigfinseafood.com

Seafood-craving diners need look no further than Big Fin's — with the exception of a few chicken or beef-based sandwiches and entrees, this menu is bulky on seafood. The restaurant offers a basic selection of nigiri, sashimi and sushi rolls —from there, choices include chilled oysters and oyster shooters, ceviche, escabeche, chilled shells and tails, grilled oysters and clams, a number of lobster dishes (including bisque, pot pie, and lobster mac-n-cheese), shrimp and scallops. "Global Seafood" includes BBQ glazed salmon, swordfish steak, blue crab-crusted grouper, mahi mahi and fried alligator. Open for dinner and late nights, Big Fin's caters to large groups. And, like every good theme restaurant, it even has a gift shop. Reservations recommended. Prices: $30 and under

 

Wa

5911 Turkey Lake Rd.
407-226-0234 • www.warestaurant.com

Wa — Japanese for harmony — has garnered rave reviews since its opening in October of 2009. The 80-seat sushi and Japanese fusion restaurant is complete with a sushi bar, sake bar and 52-inch flat screen television. High-quality fish, such as toro, tuna, Japanese mackerel, flounder, sea urchin, eel and more are imported daily from Japan and Hawaii for sushi. The chefs mix classic Japanese preparations with modern American techniques to challenge and please palates of customers. The "special menu" features selections that really stand out. An array of mouth-watering dishes include truffle fries, yuzu marinated veal tenderloin, liver and onions with seared foie gras, and pork belly with panko breaded scallops. Save room for mouth-watering desserts such as green tea crème brulee and kabocha pumpkin custard. Reservations recommended. Prices: $30-$60.

 

Shin Sushi
803 North Orange Ave.
407-648-8000 • www.shinsushi.com

Winner of best Japanese in the 2010 Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards, Shin Sushi is known for its fresh, simple rolls as well as unique and creative sushi creations. Its extensive sushi menu includes signature rolls such as the Maine (tempura lobster, smelt roe, avocado and mayo), Shin Citron (red tuna, Florida orange, avocado and cucumber), Shin Hotate (fried asparagus wrapped in Hokkaido raw scallops, topped with yuzu tobiko, spicy mayo and red peppers) and the Roadhouse (seared Angus beef with fresh garlic and shiso, topped with plum sauce). A great variety of Makimono is also featured, as well as chef's choice nigiri and sashimi combination specialties. Reservations recommended. Prices: $15-$30.

Local Hot Spots

Citrus
821 N. Orange Ave.
407-373-0622 • www.citrusorlando.com

This local favorite has been the recipient of a number of dining awards, including the recent Restaurant That Says 'Orlando' Best, Best Power Lunch and Best For Business Dinner, by Orlando Magazine. The name Citrus refers to the Central Florida area, and the flavors and cuisines it represents; it's regionally inspired new American dishes are influenced with a Latin flare. Appetizers include BBQ chicken or skirt steak and cheese flatbreads, duck tostados and agave lime mussels. Seafood dishes, such as Florida snapper, Idaho brook trout, pomegranate-glazed salmon and Maine sea scallops, dominate the entrée portion of the dinner menu — which also offers a butternut squash ravioli, flat iron chicken and filet mignon. Reservations recommended. Prices: $30-60.

 

Ceviche
125 W Church St.
321-281-8140 • www.ceviche.com

With a number of branches throughout Florida, this tapas joint is a hit thanks to its diverse menu and downtown location. The restaurant serves more than 100 tapas, which are small-plate menu items — appetizers, or snacks intended to be shared — with Spanish roots. Choose from a number of cold tapas, ceviches, salads, paellas and cazuelas to warm up the appetite. In addition to a number of vegetable options, meaty hot tapas include Prime New York strip medallion with famous Spanish cabrales sauce; red wine-braised oxtail; pesto-topped grilled chicken breast, braised baby lamb ribs, grilled duck breast over chocolate port sauce, and veal, chorizo and pork meatballs in piquant tomato sauce. Seafood tapas include grilled sea scallops with manchengo cheese and sherry cream sauce, fresh sautéed mussels, sautéed little neck clams, sautéed snails and fried squid. Reservations recommended. Prices: $15-$30.

 

Hue
629 E. Central Blvd.
407-849-1800 • www.huerestaurant.com

This trendy, eclectic restaurant has a constantly changing menu, depending on what's fresh. Starters include a tuna tartare, pepper seared tuna, grilled steak flat bread, calamari and lobster bisque. Try a variety of wood-grilled meats, from all-natural chicken to pork chop and New York Strip to duck breast. Other main courses include pan-seared maple leaf duck breast, Chilean seabass and wild mushroom ravioli. Hue offers homemade carrot cake, bourbon pecan pie tower and chocolate bread pudding, among other desserts. Reservations recommended. Prices: $15-$30.

 

Vito's Chop House
8633 International Drive •
407-354-2467 • www.talkofthetownrestaurants.com

Looking for a good steak? Vito's, an Italian-influenced steakhouse, has just what any steak-craving diner is looking for. The appetizer menu is full of hot and cold seafood dishes, such as Florida stone crabs, Apalachiocola oysters and lobster bisque, and a limited offering of antipastas and pastas is available. The steaks and chops list includes: New York strip, filet mignon, Tuscan porterhouse and T-bone, prime ribeye, porterhouse veal chop, pork chops, lamb T-bone and steak Italiano. Vito's is also known for its extensive wine list. Reservations recommended. Prices: $20-$40.

Fine Dining

310 Lakeside
301 E. Pine St.
407-373-0310 • www.310lakeside.net

For an upscale dinner with a great view, 310 Lakeside provides the staples of New American cuisine: steaks, seafood and pasta dishes, with some interesting twists. Appetizers include beef tenderloin flatbread, boneless buffalo bites and alligator tail. The menu boasts an array of fresh salads as well as hearty entrees like filet mignon, pork chop, roasted duck and chicken roulade. Fettucine carbonara and chicken ravioli stand out on the pasta menu, and seafood selections include haddock fish and chips and pan-seared mahi. Moderately priced sandwiches include blackened fish filet, turkey brie and salmon burger. An abbreviated late night menu is also available. Reservations recommended. Prices: $10-$30.

 

Emeril's
6000 Universal Blvd. #702
407-224-2424www.emerils.com/restaurant/6/Emerils-Orlando/

Recently voted Best Restaurant in a Theme Park, Emeril's Orlando represents the famous TV chef's work in a diverse and creative menu. Starters include Creole marinated calamari, New Orleans Barbeque shrimp, lobster orecchiette, lamb spare ribs and smoked wild and exotic mushrooms. The restaurant offers a vegetarian entrée "of the day" as well as pan-roasted redfish, whole lane snapper, bone-in ribeye, double-cut pork cops and free-range rotisserie chicken. Desserts include white chocolate bread pudding, strawberry shortcake and homemade gelatos. Reservations recommended. Prices: $25-$45.

 

The Boheme
325 S. Orange Ave.
407-581-4700 • www.grandbohemianhotel.com/theboheme

Topping the list of Orlando's most romantic restaurants is The Boheme, a fine dining restaurant located inside The Bohemian hotel. Though it serves up a wonderful dinner, it's also known as a breakfast and lunch spot for those on the go downtown. Notable breakfast dishes include crab benedict and New York Strip and eggs. For dinner, try the bleu cheese polenta dip or shrimp cocktail. In addition to a basic selection of grilled meats, specialties are crab ravioli, grouper, sea bass, scallops and risotto. The Boheme also features a sampler menu with wine tastings. Reservations recommended. Prices $20-$40.

Pub Grub

Bluesmoke Burger Bar
22 East Pine St.
407-849-1689 • www.bluesmokeburgerbar.com

Diners can choose from a dozen different burgers — from angus and kobe to the exotic ostrich and bison, as well as turkey, lobster, pork, lamb and veggie — to form the foundation of their burgers. From there, they choose a bun, a sauce, a cheese and other specialty toppings like caramelized onion, grilled pineapple and asparagus, fried egg and applewood bacon. Specialty, or "fork and knife" burgers are king: try the Great Plains, made with bison and fried egg, or the Kobelicious, made with kobe beef, with truffle mayo, gruyer cheese and wild mushrooms. Dinner entrees include meat loaf, surf and turf ravioli and free range chicken. The menu also includes some soups, sandwiches appetizers, salads and flatbreads. Prices: $10-$20.

 

Crooked Bayou
50 E. Orlando Blvd.
www.crookedbayou.com

Cajun food is known for its focus on seafood, and Crooked Bayou is known as a place to get simple Cajun comfort food. The restaurant specializes in pressed, toasted po'boy sandwiches, which range from shrimp, oyster and crawfish to catfish, chicken, steak Philly and the Cuban. Appetizers include tater tots smothered in hot sauce and blue cheese, and fried dill pickle chips; hot wings and gumbo are also popular items. Prices: $10-$15.

 

The Ravenous Pig
1234 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park
407-628-2333 • www.theravenouspig.com

This gastropub — a pub that boasts its food is as good as it's micro-brews, wine list and full bar — offers extensive menus with pub fare, raw bar, bistro classics, house-made pastas and fresh seafood. Order mussels and fries, lobster tacos or Kobe steak tartare for pub fare with a twist. Unique salads such as the farmer, with bitter greens, bacon, soft-boiled egg and brioche croutons, and starters like house-made prosciutto and burrata and shrimp and grits whet the appetite. Dive into entrees such as poached halibut, potato-crusted blue nose bass, steak frites and suckling pig cassoulet. Desserts such as the cherry crisp and chocolate-hazelnut torte, come with suggested wine pairings. Ales and lagers are available on draught, in pints or half-pints for tasting. Reservations recommended. Prices: $15-$35.

Ethnic

Agave Azul
4750 S. Kirkman Rd.
407-704-6930www.agaveazulorlando.com

Authentic Mexican food in Orlando benefits from the city's proximity to fresh seafood. Agave Azul has all the authentic traditional dishes one might expect, and augments its menu with fresh seafood offerings. Try the tropical ceviche martini, which features a fresh catch of the day, or the cangrejo dip, grilled blue crab and spinach topped with queso. Chef specialties include street tacos and steak Mexicano, and seafood dishes include grilled salmon with raspberry chipotle glaze, tilapia fish tacos and shrimp enchiladas. The bar features more than 100 brands of tequila. Prices: $10-$25.

 

Ciao Italia
6149 Westwood Blvd.
407-354-0770 • www.ciaoitaliaonline.com

For authentic upscale Italian, look no further than Ciao Italia. It's menu isn't huge, but it needn't be, as it covers all the favorite dishes diners crave: homemade lasagna, spaghetti with tomato sauce and napolitan meatballs, linguine with baby clams, seafood ravioli, chicken and veal scaloppini and parmigiana, eggplant parmigiana and more. Reservations recommended. Prices: $15-$30.

 

The Harp And Celt Restaurant and Irish Pub
25 South Magnolia Ave.
407-481-2927 • www.harpandcelt.com

Sometimes, there's nothing like an Irish pub for a few pints and a laid-back dinner. The place is separated into a pub, the Celt, and a restaurant, the Harp; both serve food but have different menus. The Celt offers more traditional Celtic fare, such as scotch eggs, sausage rolls and Irish nachos as appetizers, corned beef sandwiches and hearty entrees like cottage pie and Irish stew. The Harp steps it up a notch or two to offer a finer dining experience. Braised lamb shank, filet mignon and rainbow trout entrees pair well with appetizers like fried prawns and crab cakes. Prices: $10-$25.