Best Orlando Restaurant Recommendations

Let she share my favorite Orlando restaurants! Orlando restaurant recommendations that are gems that managed to delight us on our recent visit - and I wouldn't be doing right if I didn't share.

A white plate with a folded white napkin, fork, and knife sits on a table. A glass of water and a brown box planter with green leafy plants are in the background.

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Debating on Going to Orlando
Best Restaurants in Orlando
(Bonus) Orlando Art Recommendations!
More Travel in the United States and Canada

To me, Orlando was always the city of theme parks, strip malls and the Backstreet Boys (OK, maybe it's Tampa, but I never knew the difference). There was seemingly no good reason to go there for a 31-year-old foodie.

But ... I was pleasantly surprised! So let me tell you the story of how I ended up in some of the best restaurants in Orlando.

A yellow plate with mixed greens, diced tomatoes, beans, a small cup of dressing, guacamole, and blue corn tortilla chips. In the background, there is a bottle of hot sauce and a glass of dark red beverage with a green straw.

Debating on Going to Orlando

"Are you SURE you want to go to Orlando with me?" my man asked for the 13th time, looking at me with a raised eyebrow.

"There really is nothing there. And I'll be working all the time... I don't mind if you want to stay in Miami for a few more days." (I was working on my cheap Miami travel guide at the time).

A small pond surrounded by dense green vegetation, with lily pads floating on the water’s surface and open grasslands stretching into the distance under a partly cloudy sky.

But staying in Miami wasn't even a question. This was my 31st birthday, and considering how "splendidly" I passed my 30th. Celebrating with my family on a cruise all day only to spend the night in tears over a lengthy break-up discussion with my ex, G. I knew I needed a remedial experience.

I was a year older, wiser, had my very own apartment and a new man I was falling in love with. No way I was going to spend my birthday alone in any city!

On the Way to Orlando: the Everglades!

A grassy wetland with shallow water reflecting the sky and clouds, surrounded by tall green and brown grasses under a partly cloudy sky.

A cityscape with modern buildings and a rainbow-colored structure in the background, viewed across a lake with palm trees and a small island in the foreground under a partly cloudy sky.

A small pond with clear water is surrounded by rocks and greenery. Three white birds stand on the rocks near the water, with one spreading its wings. There are trees and a wooden fence in the background.

So the day before my birthday, we packed our bags, got into a car, and drove for 2 hours until we got to the Everglades National Park: the home of everglade national park airboat tours and gator encounters. After seeing some alligators, we drove another 3.5 hours to get to Orlando. Where I discovered there really was such a thing as a city you have to drive in...

Through a combination of walking, but mostly ubering and driving (when my partner was available), I explored some of the best places to eat in Orlando.

Now onto my Orlando restaurant food guide!

Best Restaurants in Orlando

The Farm-To-Table Mecca: Boca Kitchen Bar Market

A lettuce-wrapped burger patty topped with avocado slices, held together by a toothpick, sits on a wooden board; a glass of water and a potted plant are in the background.

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358 North Park Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789, 407-636-7022

From the little pots of herbs decorating each table, to the proud display of the provenance of each thing on the menu, it's clear that Boca Kitchen Bar Market is dedicated to the farm-to-table ethos. The food served here is seasonal and bright and the atmosphere is lively, albeit a bit pricey.

The Winter Park location I dined at attracted a very ladies-who-lunch crowd, but I think some of the other three locations should have a younger atmosphere.

The Crown Jewel: The Ravenous Pig

A rectangular white plate with three seared scallops on a bed of puree, garnished with herbs and diced vegetables. In the background are a salad, a cocktail, and glasses of water on a wooden table.

A wooden table with two plates of gourmet food, two cocktails, a glass of water, and utensils on napkins. One plate has seared scallops with garnish; the other features a mixed salad with tomatoes and greens.

565 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789, 407-628-2333

The best meal of our trip, and one of the best meals of my life, came from the fantastic and much-hyped Ravenous Pig restaurant. With the now-familiar commitment to local ingredients but an unprecedented penchant for surprising ingredient combinations and bold flavours, everything we had at the Ravenous Pig was outstanding.

We started the night with two house craft cocktails, shared a scallops and a fish dish. We enjoyed them so much that the boyfriend ordered a highly recommended pork dish, and we finished the meal with a three-ice-cream dessert combo. Everything hit the perfect balance between unusual and comforting.

The Ravenous Pig enjoyed a James Beard nomination, and it was very evident what earned it the honour.

(Bonus) Orlando Art Recommendations!

Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art

Three stained glass windows in a dimly lit room; two on the left feature intricate yellow and gold designs, while the one on the right has a blue and green geometric pattern. A potted plant stands below the windows.

Guys, when I tell you this little museum blew me away, I am not exaggerating. I relegated the usual two hours to this private gallery, which was described as the biggest private collection of Tiffany glass in the world, and I ended up far surpassing my time and staying past the museum's closing.

The amount of works, artifacts and knowledge housed at the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art is mind-boggling, and the care taken by the museum to preserve every facet of this family's interest in Tiffany glass works and American art in general is simply awe-inspiring.

If you are looking for some art in Orlando, do yourself a favour and skip the main Orlando Museum of Art (which had cute, but underwhelming temporary exhibits, and whose permanent collection is a bit boring) and devote the time to exploring the Morse Museum instead.

I have also heart that the Loch Haven Park Art Tour is something to see (let me know your thoughts)!