What qualifies a restaurant as great? Is it the ambiance, food, location, or the staff? Or maybe you have good memories of the place and the town is just endearing to you?
Orlando is not only a hub for theme parks, it’s actually also known for its sprawling restaurant scene. It’s got a wide variety of choices from eccentric to large fine dining restaurants. So which are the best restaurants in Orlando, Florida? Let’s talk about a few of them.
Kabooki Sushi
Let’s start with a heavyweight in the industry. Kabooki Sushi is run by Chef Henry Moso and has plenty of absolute winners on the menu.
Chef Moso is a James Beard finalist and a recipient of a Rising Star Chef award. Kabooki Sushi is known for its mouth-watering seafood dishes as well as multi-course omakase menus. You’ll be sure to be served only the freshest fish and seasonal nigiri straight from the Toyosu Market in Tokyo. They offer a wide range of sushi rolls from salmon and eel to yellowtail. Throw in some hamachi toro, hotategai, saba, and maguro, and you don’t just come in to eat — you experience a unique dining experience. This is definitely as fancy as Japanese dining can get, and it’s located right in the heart of Orlando. Stylish, modern, exquisite, Kabooki Sushi is most definitely one of the hottest places in town.
The Ravenous Pig
Let’s jump from one James Beard nominee to another! The Ravenous Pig is run by James and Julie Petrakis, a husband and wife team. The restaurant offers Southern-leaning food with most of its ingredients ethically sourced locally in Florida. This restaurant takes every detail to the next level. It has a perfect ambiance with leather booths, mural paintings, and cozy lighting. Should you be looking for an industrial-like feel and to get really full with good food, then this is the place to be. The restaurant also serves all sorts of drinks in its bar and modern American food that will fill up your belly nicely. From smoked pork to shrimps and grits to mouth-watering steaks, you’ll definitely keep coming back for more.
Tori Tori
For the Japanese, food is not just for consumption, it’s an artform. That’s why Tori Tori is the second Japanese-themed restaurant on our list. Treat yourselves to top-notch izakaya eats and yakitori free-range chicken that’s brined overnight. Everything you order will be grilled on Japanese charcoal, which makes this one of the most unique restaurants in Orlando. The restaurant has crabs, scallops, tuna belly, Japanese uni, and Faroe Island salmon. You can share your food with friends or chow on your own.
Pizza Bruno
Our last stop on our trip for nice restaurants in Orlando culminates at Pizza Bruno. What’s a list without pizza, right? From the Conway area west of downtown Orlando, this pizza place has got a rags-to-riches story that’s as flavorful as its food. Enjoy New Haven clam pie, Crimson Ghost, and Mike’s Hot Honey among a few of their delectable choices.
Final Thoughts
So, which one do you fancy the most? Well, all four that we listed offer a different dining experience, so you’re welcome to try all of them once you get to Orlando. While these are some of the top restaurants in Orlando, the city also offers a lot more. Go check them out and enjoy a gastronomical experience like no other.
