Orlando has been working to overcome a long-standing reputation as a hub for fast-food and chain restaurants. Today, the city has been filled with a variety of inventive dining options created by 
award-winning chefs. From fine dining to gastropubs and concept restaurants, Orlando has it all. Here are our top 4 spots around the city that are sure to leave you wanting more.
The Ravenous Pig
Celebrity chef couple Julie and James Petrakis are local to the Orlando area and have started their restaurant empire with The Ravenous Pig. This gastropub offers a large, ever-changing selection of beers on tap, as well as fresh takes on classic pub foods. Stop in for one of their signature dishes like the bone-marrow pot stickers, or soft pretzels served with taleggio-porter fondue. The Ravenous Pig uses locally sourced favorites to create a truly unique dining experience that can’t be replicated elsewhere. Stop in during your stay at 565 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789.
The Rusty Spoon
Farm-to-table dining is becoming quite popular and now visitors and residents of Orlando have a place to try it out. Kathleen Blake’s creation, The Rusty Spoon, offers a range of seasonally inspired dishes with a southern flair. Depending on the time of year, you may find buttermilk Vidalia onion rings on the menu, or even their signature “Dirty South” stew featuring shrimp, fish, clams, and veggies. Stop in with your foodie friends at 55 W. Church Street, Orlando, FL 32801.
Cress
Repeat James Beard Award nominee Hari Pulapaka pays homage to Indian classics like tikka masala or vindaloo curry, but with a twist at Cress. He routinely combines these traditional flavors with Southern favorites like shrimp and grits, as well as Kurobuta pork belly dressed with jerked and braised greens and a fried egg. Cress has flavors on its menu like no other, and if you’re a fan of Indian or Southern food you’ll fall in love. Bring the whole family to 103 West Indiana Avenue, DeLand, FL.
East End Market
Think of the East End Market as Orlando’s equivalent of the Pike Place Market in Seattle. It offers visitors and residents of the city a center for locally sourced, artisanal food and drink that is sure to satisfy all types of foodies. Bakers, juice bars, cheese mongers, and specialty-food sellers abound here, as well as retailers selling high-end cookware and hosting cooking classes. The East End Market is located at 3201 Corrine Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.
These are just a few of the options the Orlando area has to offer when it comes to satisfying the cravings of any foodie. When booking your Orlando vacation, be sure to book with the hotel that puts you close to all that Orlando has to offer. We are just minutes away from all the delicious lunch and dinner options available in the city, and every guestroom is stocked with a mini fridge and microwave in case you end up with leftovers. For room availability, call us at (407) 996-1600 to book your stay.
