I have lived in Orlando long enough that I should have tried these places already… but apparently my food bucket list had other plans.
So welcome to New to Me: Orlando Eats: where I'm finally getting around to the restaurants everyone else has been talking about.
Wave Sushi - Maitland & Mount Dora
WAVE leans heavily into creative formats and Asian-fusion, including playful sushi creations beyond traditional rolls. I heard about their push pop suhi and knew I had to give this a try, because I didn’t even know sushi could do that!
Price range: $13.50 - $20 depending on the sushi push pop
I went with Mango Tango ($16): Tempura shrimp, spicy krab, avocado, mango and tobiko. I loved the flavors and presentation!
Bulla Gastrobar - Winter Park
I’ve never been to this Spanish brunch and I’ve been missing out! I knew that Bulla had delicious tapas but the curated brunch made my Sunday perfect.
For $32 you can get a 3 course meal with a varity of options to chose from.
I had the croqueta de jamon, huevos bravos (eggs, potatoes, peppers, sauce) & dessert empanadas. You can also add on bottomless sangria or mimoasas for $23.Very filling for a combo deal, authentic Spanish flavors.
The Drake Kitchen + Bar - Downtown Orlando
My unexpected favorite hidden right by where I work. The Drake has a more polished downtown feel with globally inspired food and a craft cocktail program. In looking at the menu in advance we saw they had brussel sprouts and salmon options that would help us stay on our fitness plan. While those were our responsible choices, the espresso martinis were so good they became our personality!
Red Quinoa, Sea Island Red Peas, Chickpeas, Crisp Local Greens, Orange Blossom Honey Mustard Dressing - $26
Fresh and light meal with very big portions.
Estefan’s Kitchen - Kissimmee
I was missing Miami and the richness of Cuban food so Estefan’s quickly moved up my list. You know I'm going to investigate when Cuban flavor shows up on an Orlando menu!
When I see starters like bacon wrapped plantains served with a guava sauce, I know I’m in the right place. I also enjoyed classics like ropa vieja and tres leches!
Slightly higher price points since it’s in the tourist area so about $65 per person, I would recommend coming for Magical Dining where 3 courses is $40. Food was excellent and authentic with enough to take home for leftovers.