Good bars in Orlando?
 

Do you live in Orlando?

I'm visiting Saturday and Sunday and looking for some decent bars and restaurants. If you live there I'd appreciate the advice..!

Go to Firestone on Saturday

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

That's assuming it's the same kind of place it was when I lived in Orlando 10 years ago.

Yeah I'm not sure I moved out of Florida in 2002. I have unfortunately been there on a Saturday night before lol

If you're looking for downtown Orlando stuff...

GOOD EATS
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Shari Sushi is AWESOME... I lived in Japan for a year and a half and this place has the best sushi I've had in the US... Amazing and they stock high quality sake and make this fried strawberries in homemade cinnamon icecream... damn it's good.

Houston's is guaranteed to have an excellent steak and the Orlando location sits on the water... GREAT atmosphere.

Another great place, if you're willing to drive to Winter Park (not far away at all) is right on the main strip through Winter Park across from the Lucky Brand Clothing store. I forget the name as the name is the street number but their cook can knock out a medium rare fillet like you've never tasted in your life...

There's also a Ruth's Chris right around there as well... if you can't tell by now I love my steaks :P

A little farther out down 436 you can also find the best Italian place in all of Orlando... Stefanos Trattoria... the Italian guy that owns the place still cooks every day and greets everyone that eats there. The tortellini de'Stephano is fucking amazing and most people can't stop from eating the same thing every time they go there because everything is absolutely amazing... HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if you're in the mood for some good Italian.

A lot of people also like Seasons 52 but I'm not that much of a fan. A little over priced and the portions are small as everything is under X calories... thought I'd include it though :P

Another fantastic sushi place is Amura's ... VERY VERY good quality, GREAT selection of rolls and sushimi with a nice atmosphere. Upscale and very well done.

Bubba Gump Shrimp has a place out in Universal as well and if you've never eaten at one it's worth the trip. Amazing shrimp and seafood dishes and the atmosphere is really a lot of fun...


DAMN I'M HUNGRY NOW!

Would you like a bar report as well? hahah

Yes a bar report would be awesome too, thanks!

I've seen Bubba Shimp but never checked it out. Orlando is such a FAMILY town that I just assumed it was cram-jammed full of screaming kids. bleah.


I'll be in town meeting with a few clients. If anyone wants to make an evening out lemme know..

Also:

Has anyone here been to "The Groove" at Universal Citywalk? Is it any good?

What type of bars are you looking for? Would help narrow it down a bit :P I don't wanna send you to some dive bar if you're looking for something upscale, hahaah

Not really sure... something fun, nice, comfortable... live ROCK would be great but it really doesn't matter.

That place certainly has gone through changes over the years but back in the mid 90s it was hetro heaven. :winkwink:

Ok to start I should have mentioned Mellow Mushroom for pizza... they have a wide range of microbrews as well and the pizza is absolutely amazing.

Houston's would also count as a bar I imagine...

Oh shit... You should hit up the Lake Eola Wine Bar if you like wine... it's right down town as well. In fact it's right near Shari... They have an outstanding selection and the owners and sommeliers are top notch.

If you end up eating in Winter Park there's another good wine bar right on the stip there, I can't think of the name but you can buy by the glass, bottle, or pick up a card with credits on it and try a myriad of different wines they have available for tasting. Great way to taste what you're getting into before popping the cork on a pricey bottle :P

Sky60 ... called SkyBar by the locals will most likely have some electronic music but it's on the roof and usually has a really chill atmosphere.

If you end up in Universal City Walk there's also a House of Blues there, always good for some good eats and music.

There's also a really cool Sake Bar called the Tatame Lounge... it's in Winter Park. Pretty fun for a change of pace and they have those doors to the bathroom that frost over when you active them but the activation is on a light switch so... that can be pretty entertaining. You've been warned, haha

I know this sounds kinda off but it's hard to find live rock music in a bar environment in Orlando... Austin, TX however... there's like 1,000 places on any given night, hahah

Only other place I can think of off the top of my head, and specifically for some live rock music, is The Haven... They have a lot of Indy rock and some open mic nights. They're in Winter Park as well.

Mid 90s that place was blowing the fuck up... Rated one of the top three clubs in the world by Rolling Stone Mag I believe...

Yeah, back in the mid 90s Orlando had some great clubs that offered something for everyone. You could rave at Firestone or rock out at The Station in Fern Park. Lot's of dance clubs downtown with that big one in the old movie theater space on Orange Ave. and there was a really cool club in a shopping center on Lee Road that was the hot spot for awhile too. Good times back then when people were more carefree compared to today where going out seems more complicated.

Sorry I can't help you out with what's hot today because I'm past my prime. I'm not going to complain though because I peaked in a better time :winkwink:

Have you checked www.metromix.com ? They've got a ton of bars, restaurants and whatever else.

This is great thanks! Wish I was staying for longer than 2 days now..!

Lemme know if you're going to Hawaii or Tokyo, I can spew out a ton of places there as well, hahahha...

I love my food... For being 6'1" and 150lbs I can put down more food than just about anyone you've ever met. When I go to breakfast I order two or three meals... I love me some breakfast :D

Whoever mentioned Firestone go jump off a bridge

I live Downtown, email me with what you like

Bar:

Club Feel - Vixen/Vintage
Irish Bars - Lizzy McGuires
Great Atmosphere - (thorton park) Graffiti Junktion, Burtons

Eats:

Dexters - Hipster Cafe style place ($$)
Graffiti Junktion - Burgers ($)
Ceviche- Tapas ($$$)
Wildsides - BBQ ($)


There's a million places, just tell me what kinda stuff you like and I'll tell you exactly where to go

Blue Martini at Millenia Mall is pretty cool if you like to mingle with the "Beautiful people of Orlando", it's not too expensive and it used to be the place where the infamous/famous Tiger Woods used to go to pick up hot chicks.

Universal's City Walk is OK if you don't mind sharing your space with sweaty tourist in shorts. I do find the restaurants there usually over priced and not so great...

There is a pretty cool place downtown on Church's Street called Ceviche (http://www.ceviche.com/) great food, live music on week ends, plus it is right in the middle of the action, so once you are done eating you can check out all the bars and clubs around.

If you have anything specific you like to eat, let me know and I can direct you to some other places...

Yeah Blue Martini is ok but in Orlando it's filled with what we call "30K millionaires" if you catch my drift

Hey David Check out Ceviche's happy hour all day Tuesday, it rocks! $4 drinks and $4 food

Btw, A-Bomb just left my couch for the week, we could of had a perfect party if we planned better!

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LOL, yeah, lots of those :1orglaugh
Tuna tartare, papas bravas and steak are my favorite there :thumbsup