Dining out in Florida: A guide to the best restaurants in Orlando

Nation's Restaurant News, Sept 16, 2002

Reservations recommended

Attendees at the MUESO Conference in Orlando, Fla., have numerous dining options, ranging from casual to sophisticated. Whether you want to get together and talk about business or break away from a seminar you can dine at some of the city's finest restaurants. Bon appetit!

Here are two of Greater Orlando's members of the Nation's Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame:

Christini's

7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd., (407) 345-8770. Seats: 200. Cuisine: Northern Italian. Specialties: 26-ounce roasted veal chop with fresh sage and Calvados applesauce; pan-seared sea bass over shrimp risotto with tarragon lobster sauce; jumbo shrimp flamed with brandy and vodka, simmered in spicy sauce over linguine; calamari fritti with pescatore sauce; tiramisu with fresh raspberries. Main courses: $18-$135. Chef-owner: Chris Christini. Awarded in 1997.

Citrus Club

255 S. Orange Ave., (407) 843-1080. Seats: 120 in dining room, 200 for banquets. Cuisine: continental. Specialties: seasonal seafood cart; crab cakes; petit filet with pan-seared crab cake, mushroom and Marsala sauce; steak Diane with mushrooms and scallops, tableside; horseradish-dusted salmon with roasted corn and cilantro cakes and vanilla sauce; bananas Foster tableside; flaming coffees. Main courses: $18-$29. Chef: Frank Chiasera. Owner: Club Corp. Awarded in 1989.

Orlando area steak houses:

Butcher Shop Steak House

8445 International Drive, (407) 363-9727. Seats: 280. Cuisine: hickory-grilled steaks and seafood. Specialties: 32-ounce prime rib served au jus with horseradish; 32-ounce porterhouse; mixed grill of steak, shrimp and chicken breast with rice pilaf. All steaks are hand cut, aged four weeks and served with baked potato. Main courses: $16-$28. Chef: Norris Harris. Owner: Dennis Day.

Charley's Steak House

6107 S. Orange Blossom Trail, (407) 851-7130. Seats: 340. Cuisine: steaks and seafood. Specialties: surf & turf--20-ounce filet and 20-ounce lobster with salad and baked potato or steak fries; 13-ounce filet with au gratin potatoes and salad; grilled Australian rock lobster; king crab legs; white chocolate chambord; Key West sampler; baked Brie. Main courses: $1 9-$56. Chef: George Rovira. Owner: Talk of the Town Restaurants.

Del Frisco's Steakhouse

729 Lee Road, (407)1345-4443. Seats: 450. Cuisine: steaks and lobster. Specialties: cut-to-order filet; 16-ounce bone-in rib-eye; 24-ounce porter- house; cut-to-order prime strip; Chateau potatoes; fresh asparagus and sauteed mushrooms; grilled 16-ounce swordfish; 8-ounce lamb porterhouse; house-made bread pudding; mandarin orange cake. Main courses: $1 9-$33. Chef: Zoltan Davis. Owners: Russ and Carol Christner.

Morton's of Chicago

7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd., (407) 248-3485.. Seats: 150 in main dining room; 275 in five private dining rooms. Cuisine: steak and seafood. Specialties: 24-ounce porterhouse; 14-ounce double-cut filet; 48-ounce porterhouse for two; Maine lobster; signature Godiva hot chocolate cake with molten chocolate center; oysters on half shell; jumbo shrimp cocktail. Main courses: $20-$45. Chef: Humberto Gomez. Owner: Morton's Restaurant Group.

Ronnie's Steak House

7500 International Drive, (407) 313-3001. Seats: 360. Cuisine: steak and seafood. Specialties: 9-ounce filet; 12-ounce New York strip; 16-ounce T-bone; rack of lamb; grilled center-cut swordfish with roasted artichoke and sweet tomato chutney; skillet-blackened mahi-mahi with vegetable skewer and mango-barbecue sauce; roasted wild mushrooms; Ronnie's onion rings; lobster martini; lobster bisque. Main courses: $20-$45. Chef-owners: Adil and Aida Elias,

Ruth's Chris Steak House

610 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, (407) 622-2444. Seats: 270. Cuisine: steaks and seafood. Specialties: 12-ounce filet; porterhouse for two; 16-ounce New York strip; Australian lobster tails; Maine lobster; creamed spinach; asparagus; sauteed mushrooms; potatoes au gratin and lyonnaise; crabmeat-stuffed mushrooms; creme brulee. Main courses: $24-$65. Chef: Jean Pierre Laurent. Owner: Ruth's Chris Steak House Inc.

Sam Seltzer's Steak House

800 E. Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs, (407) 332-7267. Seats: 320. Cuisine: classic steaks. Specialties: 32-ounce prime rib for sharing with salad and side; 24-ounce T-bone; 10-ounce filet; onion "rolls" with dipping sauce; jumbo shrimp cocktail; graham cracker Napoleon with custard filling and hot chocolate sauce; chocolate explosion with hot fudge ice cream. Main courses: $10-$25. Chef: Herb Collins. Owner: Michael Seltzer.

Shula's Steak House

Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel, Epcot Resorts, (407) 934-1580. Seats: 180. Cuisine: steak and seafood. Specialties: 12-ounce filet; 24-ounce porterhouse; 48-ounce signature porterhouse; asparagus; broccoli; baked potatoes; potato pancakes; creamed spinach; barbecued basil shrimp; beefsteak tomato salad; seven-layer chocolate cake; red velvet cake; souffle. Main courses: $22-$65. Chef: Mark Shendok. Owner: Tishman Hotels.

Bahama Breeze

8849 International Drive, (407) 248-2499 and two other metro-Orlando locations. Seats: 250. Cuisine: Caribbean/Latin. Specialties: jerk-painted salmon; pan-seared pork tenderloin medallions; coconut prawns; conch and shrimp fritters; ahi tuna ceviche; habanero wings; Trinidad seafood pasta; calypso shrimp pasta; West Indies patties; grilled Jamaican jerk chicken wings; Key lime pie; bananas supreme with butterscotch glaze; Jose's chocolate tres leches. Main courses: $9-$20. Chef: Rick Crossland. Owner: Darden Restaurants.