People often ask me what my favorite restaurants in Orlando are, what to eat in Orlando, and though I have many favorites, I’d like to highlight some especially wonderful dishes at local Orlando establishments. These are dishes that stand a cut above the rest and are the best to try in Orlando if you have limited time.
Spinach and Burratta Mozzarella Ravioli with grilled artichoke and black olives – Pasta
Luma on Park
290 S Park Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
(407) 599-4111
http://www.lumaonpark.com/
Handcrafted ravioli with spinach folded into the dough, absolutely transcendent. This gorgeous pasta dish tastes as delicious as it looks, with the flavors of black olives, mozzarella, spinach, ravioli, all coming together as one harmonious dish.
Croque Madame Topped with Fried Egg – Sandwich
Croissant Gourmet
120 East Morse Boulevard
Winter Park, FL 32789
(407) 622-7533
http://www.croissantgourmet.com/
The croque madame sandwich, a variation of the croque monsieur, is deftly made with ham and Gruyere cheese, hand-dipped in egg, then pan-fried in butter to a nice crisp. Finally, the croque is topped with a luscious golden-yellow yolk, sunny-side up egg. The egg yolk oozes down the sandwich when you cut into it, preferably with fork and knife.
Almond Croissant
Croissant Gourmet
120 East Morse Boulevard
Winter Park, FL 32789
(407) 622-7533
http://www.croissantgourmet.com/
Flaky, buttery croissant with a nice sweet, creamy filling of almond paste and topped with almonds and dusted with confectionary sugar
The Crooked Spoon Burger
The Crooked Spoon Food Truck
(407) 927-1587
http://www.facebook.com/thecrookedspoon
http://www.thecrookedspn.com/
The Crooked Spoon Burger is a meaty Angus beef burger with soft buns made locally from the Olde Hearth Bakery topped with a chipotle aioli sauce, sweet caramelized onions, swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato.
Shio Butter Ramen – Noodle Soup
Hanamizuki Japanese Restaurant
8255 International Drive
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 363-7200
http://www.hanamizuki.us/
The broth is deeply flavorful with the taste of butter and salt, the noodles are made fresh and tasty. The boiled egg, the bamboo shoots, chashu pork slices, scallions and everything else melt together in a sea of deliciousness.
The Fu Man Chu – Sandwich
Pom Pom’s Teahouse and Sandwicheria
67 North Bumby Avenue
Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 894-0865
http://www.pompomsteahouse.com/
The villainous Fu Man Chu, made with a sweet Hoisin barbecue sauce based Asian Pulled Pork, watercress, goat cheese, ginger cranberry chutney, and spicy red onions, a perfect lunch for all those deviants out there. It’s got sweetness from the barbecue and cranberry chutney, a little tart from the red onions, savory from the pulled pork, creamy from the goat cheese. It all sounds like quite the mess, but it’s all strangely satisfying and fulfilling.
Widowmaker Pizza
Prato
124 North Park Avenue
Winter Park, FL 32789
(407) 262-0050
http://www.prato-wp.com/
Widowmaker pizza – fennel sausage, arugula, toscano, romesco sauce, and a local farm egg, over easy, baked in the center.
Bone-In Ribeye Steak
A Land Remembered
Inside the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort
9939 Universal Boulevard
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 996-3663
http://www.landrememberedrestaurant.com/
A Land Remembered features Harris Ranch Black Angus Five Diamond Prime Beef. The taste is exquisite, the bone-in ribeye steak, a juicy, slightly-charred cut served perfectly at the desired medium rare.
Glazed Donuts
The Donut King
208 US Highway 27
Minneola, FL 34711
(352) 243-4046
http://www.thedonutking.com/index.cfm
The glazed donut is heavenly, a sweet donut soft and fluffy like something you’d find on cloud 9 with a touch of vanilla flavor.
Grand Marnier Souffle – Dessert
The Venetian Room
Inside the Caribe Royale resort
8101 World Center Dr
Orlando, FL 32821
(407) 238-8060
http://www.thevenetianroom.com/
The Grand Marnier Souffle – you have to order it early in the meal as it takes about 20 minutes to prepare – arrives for dessert like a small powdered mountain of soft, puffy eggy cake. The dish is finished with table side service, topped off by our gracious waiter with the sweet crème anglaise. The dessert and experience was pure heaven, the souffle was soft and airy, sweet and utterly delicious.
Have a dish that you think should be on this list? E-mail it to us at TastyChomps@gmail.com
I’m surprised I haven’t tried any of these. Guess I’ve got some work to do now. – Ben
The Fu Manchu is a work of true sandwich artistry. I never get tired of ordering it.
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I was in minneola the other day and ended up at doughnut king. GOOD stuff!!
I would have to pick the souffles at Victoria and Albert’s over Vention Room. They come in either chocolate or Grand Marnier flavors. They sit up nice and tall and fluffy. Venitions are too eggy and are a little more…rustic… in shape.
Thanks Mike, Ill have to try their souffle soon! haven’t had the opportunity to visit yet but it’s on the top of the list