We know that lots of theme park fans don’t like to go off theme park property when they vacation in Central Florida. We used to be like that, too, before we lived here. Eating at a theme park is usually faster than traveling off property to dine, it keeps you immersed in the theme park experience, etc. And we get it – there are indeed some really nice places “on property” that give you awesome food and/or theming (case in point, some of our best meals ever have been at Disney’s Victoria & Albert’s – here’s a review of our last epic visit. They were closed for a long time during Covid but, happily, reopened a few months ago), and you get to maximize your time in the parks. But if you limit yourself to just eating on property, you are denying yourself some incredibly good eats that usually cost a fraction of Disney’s and Universal’s prices and often taste even better than anything you can get in the parks or on property.
These are some of our favorite “off property” restaurants. We’ve listed them in alphabetical order, since it would be almost impossible to put them in order of which is best, second best, etc., and they run the gamut in terms of price point, food type, dress requirements and distance from the parks. Many offer meals throughout the day (i.e. breakfast, lunch, brunch, high tea), although we’re specifying our experiences with them for dinner. Most are places you can’t find anywhere else (or at least have only limited locations), they’re all “not to be missed” and some, we admit, are really just for adults (we’ve included level of “kid-friendliness,” based on our observations, in each of the narratives).
1. ARTISAN’S TABLE
55 W Church St. (courtyard of the 55 West building)
Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 730-7499
Approx. distance from WDW: 17 miles (via I-4 East)
Approx. distance from Universal: 10 miles (via I-4 East)
Read what other people say about it on Yelp, TripAdvisor
Photo courtesy of Artisan’s Table
Located in Downtown Orlando, this modern, trendy restaurant opened in 2014 and has been growing its following ever since; so much so that in early 2019, they moved from their original location on Pine St. (also in Downtown Orlando) to these larger digs. The food is fresh and delicious, with a menu that changes fairly frequently. They have a fully stocked bar and a wide variety of cocktails. The menu changes on a regular basis, but if they’re available, we strongly recommend the oxtail dinner, the candy bar dessert and the apricot sidecar (a fruity house-invented drink that’s usually no longer on the menu but some of the bartenders can still make it). We have seen children at Artisan’s Table (albeit not regularly), and those that we have seen were very well-behaved.
2. BERN’S STEAK HOUSE
1208 S. Howard Ave.
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 251-2421
Approx. distance from WDW: 71 miles (via I-4 West)
Approx. distance from Universal: 79 miles (via I-4 West)
Read what other people say about it on Yelp, TripAdvisor, Wikipedia
Photo via of bernssteakhouse.com
Yes, it’s far from the parks. It’s also, by far, the fanciest and most expensive restaurant on our list. However, Bern’s Steak House, 67 years old and going strong, is an experience you will never, ever forget as a special night out for the adults in your party. The decor of its various dining rooms screams the 1960s and 1970s, but the service and food are old school and impeccable. The menu is huge (and the wine list even more so! Bern’s has the largest wine list of any restaurant in the world!) and can be a bit overwhelming for first-timers but your waiter can walk you through it with ease. Anything you get at Bern’s will be incredible and cooked exactly as you request. Don’t forget to take the tour of the wine cellar and kitchen after your meal (the tours has been on hold since Covid but restarted in July, 2023), and save room for dessert in the Henry Waugh Dessert Room, upstairs – because how often do you get to eat dessert in a wine barrel?
Heads up that reservations go on sale 60 days out, and they go FAST!
3. CHEF’S TABLE AT THE EDGEWATER
AND/OR!
4. TASTING ROOM AT THE CHEF’S TABLE
99 W. Plant St.
Winter Garden, FL 34787
(407) 230-4837
Approx. distance from WDW: 20 miles (via FL-429N)
Approx. distance from Universal: 15 miles (via Florida’s Tnpk N.)
YES! Two different (VERY different) awesome restaurants, with the same owners, at the same establishment! Chef’s Table became so popular that the owners opened The Tasting Room a few years later.
Read what other people say about Chef’s Table at the Edgewater on Yelp, TripAdvisor
Photo courtesy of Chef’s Table at the Edgewater
Housed in the historical Edgewater Hotel (which now is run as a B&B), Chef’s Table opened in 2008 and has been winning award after award ever since. A small establishment with just a handful of tables, they offer a nightly three-course prix fixe menu, with options of a cheese course and wine pairing, that rotates regularly. Laurie is a skilled sommelier, Kevin has worked in the kitchen of WDW’s Victoria & Albert’s and New Orlean’s Arnaud’s, and both have worked front of house of WDW’s California Grill. If you visit Chef’s Table, expect a full evening of deliciousness for the adults in your party.
Read what other people say about Tasting Room at the Chef’s Table on Yelp, TripAdvisor
Tasting Room at the Chef’s Table
Meanwhile, in 2011, Laurie and Kevin opened Tasting Room at the Chef’s Table just adjacent to Chef’s Table at the Edgewater. This is a much more casual restaurant, with a focus on tapas (small but shareable plates), much of which has a Creole influence, thanks to Kevin’s past work of living and working in New Orleans. Our personal favorites are the Asian beef, lobster mac & cheese and the duck fat fries (oh, the duck fat fries!) – let us know what you and your kids like best!
FUN FACT! Kevin and Laurie also opened The Attic Door a few years after they opened Tasting Room – it’s a bistro atmosphere (with live music!) that’s open for dinner, and also offers a traditional afternoon tea on Saturdays. We’re sure it’s an excellent restaurant, but we still haven’t been.
5. COLUMBIA
649 Front St.
Celebration, FL 34747
Approx. distance from WDW: 8 miles (via World Dr.)
Approx. distance from Universal: 14 miles (via I-4 West)
Read what other people say about it on Yelp, TripAdvisor
Photo courtesy of The Columbia
The original Columbia restaurant opened in Tampa’s Ybor City in 1905, making it the oldest restaurant in Florida. It’s also been owned by the same family for all that time. Now expanded to 5 restaurants through the state (Tampa, Sarasota, St. Augustine, Clearwater and Celebration, as well as smaller Columbia Cafes at Tampa Riverwalk and at Concourse E of Tampa Int’l Airport), the Celebration location opened in 1997 and is the closest to the theme park corridor and only about a 10-minute drive from the southern parts of WDW property. The menu features Spanish fare and I can never decide if I like their chicken, pork or shrimp dishes best, but I can tell you that their white sangria is to die for! Definitely a kid-friendly establishment!
6. 4 RIVERS SMOKEHOUSE
874 W. Osceola Pkwy.
Kissimmee, FL 34741
Approx. distance from WDW: 8 miles (via W. Osceola Pkwy.)
Approx. distance from Universal: 13 miles (via I-4 West, FL-528 R & John Young Pkwy.)
Read what other people say about it on Yelp, TripAdvisor
We know, we know – there are lots of places that offer good BBQ. And we realize that you may want to stand by your Texas, Louisville, North Carolina or Kansas City BBQ and that’s absolutely fine. But 4 Rivers is still darn good ‘Q. Established in a single location in Winter Park (about 20 miles from WDW) in 2009, hour-long lines were almost immediately out the door. Since then, 4 Rivers has expanded to 10 locations within Central Florida and 5 more in further-out places in Florida. What can we say? It’s BBQ, it’s delicious, and we love it. So will you and your kids. Give it a try! Heads up that all 4 Rivers locations are closed on Sundays.
7. HANAMIZUKI
8255 International Dr., Suite 136
Orlando, FL 32819
Approx. distance from WDW: 8 miles (via I-4 East)
Approx. distance from Universal: 3 miles (via International Dr.)
Read what other people say about it on Yelp, Trip Advisor
We’ve been to Japan 4 times and love it when we can find a stateside Japanese restaurant that is what we would call “absolutely authentic and traditional.” Hanamazuki is most definitely the epitome of that. Tucked into a strip mall shadowed by the Orlando Eye (it’s the same strip mall as Sleuth’s dinner show, which is also a good landmark in terms of the 8 million strip malls in the area), you will be greeted with “Irasshaimase!” as you enter, and a menu that is written in Japanese with English subtitles. We love the shabu shabu and Ishiyaki, although you can’t lose with the udon or soba noodle meals, either. Children are welcome and heads up that, since it’s a small restaurant, reservations are highly recommended.
8. SEASONS 52
Plaza Venezia
7700 W. Sand Lake Rd.
Orlando, FL 32819
Approx. distance from WDW: 6 miles (via S. Apopka Vineland Rd.)
Approx. distance from Universal 3 miles (via Turkey Lake Rd.)
Read what other people say about it on Yelp, Trip Advisor
Photo courtesy of Seasons 52
Seasons 52 is the only restaurant on our list that has more than, at most, just a few locations (nearly 50 of them in over 20 states). However, the Orlando/Sand Lake Rd./”Restaurant Row” location is, not only the closest to the theme parks, but also the original location, which opened in 2002. Oh, and those mini desserts there you see everywhere? Seasons 52 invented those – they call them “Mini Indulgences.” Focusing on American and generally “healthier” fare, the restaurant’s menu changes seasonally, although some items seem to remain year-round. It is, by far, our #1 “go-to” restaurant and our personal favorites include the cucumber basil smash, scallops, filet mignon, pork tenderloin and chocolate s’more or chocolate peanut butter torte desserts. Children are welcome but as the restaurant frequently hosts convention parties as well as couples on “date night,” we’d say that well-behaved children are appreciated.
These are just a few of our favorites and obviously, there are LOTS of other “off-site” restaurants in the Orlando area – which are YOUR favorites?
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