2019 Dining Awards: Readers' Choice
Our annual guide to great cuisine, with 20 picks from Dining Critic Joseph Hayes, selections by readers in 57 categories, and four new inductees into our Dining Hall of Fame.
2019 Dining Awards | Readers' Choice | Hall of Fame | Readers' Spotlight 1 | Readers' Spotlight 2 | Critic's Pick 1 | Critic's Pick 2
BEST RESTAURANT
1. Taverna Opa
Pointe Orlando
opaorlando.com
2. Francesco’s Ristorante & Pizzeria
Maitland
francescos-rist.com
3. Pal Campo Restaurant
Lake Buena Vista
palcamporestaurant.com
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
1. Bem Bom on Corrine
Audubon Park
facebook.com/bembomoncorrine
2. Bites & Bubbles
Mills 50 District
bitesbubbles.com
3. Taste of Chengdu
West Colonial Drive
facebook.com/tasteofchengdu
BEST CHEF
1. Frank Galeano
Tapa Toro
ICON Orlando 360
tapatoro.restaurant
2. Francesco Aiello
Francesco’s Ristorante & Pizzeria
Maitland
francescos-rist.com
3. Wade McLamb
deep blu seafood grille
Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort
Bonnet Creek
deepbluorlando.com
BEST APPETIZERS
1. The Tasting Room
Winter Garden
chefstableattheedgewater.com
2. Cocina 214
Winter Park
cocina214.com
3. Bites & Bubbles
Mills 50 District
bitesbubbles.com
BEST INDEPENDENT BAKERY
1. The Glass Knife
Winter Park
theglassknife.com
2. Buttermilk Bakery
Winter Park
buttermilk-bakery.com
3. Olde Hearth Bread Company
Audubon Park & Casselberry
oldehearthbreadcompany.com
BEST BARBECUE
1. 4 Rivers Smokehouse
Six Orlando-area locations
4rsmokehouse.com
2. Pig Floyd’s Urban Barbakoa
Mills 50 District & Lake Nona
pigfloyds.com
3. Bubbalou’s Bodacious BBQ
Five Orlando-area locations
bubbalous.com
BEST BEER SELECTION
1. World of Beer
Four Orlando-area locations
worldofbeer.com
2. Redlight Redlight Beer Parlour
Audubon Park
redlightredlightbeerparlour.com
3. Crooked Can Brewing Company
Winter Garden
crookedcan.com
BEST BREAKFAST
1. Keke’s Breakfast Café
Multiple Orlando-area locations
kekes.com
2. Farm & Haus
Audubon Park & mobile storefront
farmandhaus.com
3. The COOP
Winter Park
asouthernaffair.com
BEST BRUNCH
1. Santiago’s Bodega
Orlando & Altamonte Springs
santiagosbodega.com
2. The Vineyard Wine Company
Lake Mary
thevineyardwinecompany.com
3. The Glass Knife
Winter Park
theglassknife.com
BEST LOCAL BURGER
1. Beth’s Burger Bar
Edgewood & Universal Boulevard
bethsburgerbar.com
2. The Tap Room at Dubsdread
College Park
taproomatdubsdread.com
3. Teak Neighborhood Grill
MetroWest
teakorlando.com
BEST FOR A BUSINESS DINNER
1. Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
Restaurant Row
eddiev.com
2. Bull & Bear
Waldorf Astoria Orlando
bullandbearorlando.com
3. Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster
Lee Road, Orlando
christnersprimesteakandlobster.com
BEST CARIBBEAN
1. Bahama Breeze
Multiple Orlando-area locations
bahamabreeze.com
2. Pal Campo Restaurant
Lake Buena Vista
palcamporestaurant.com
3. Mango’s Tropical Café Orlando
International Drive
mangos.com/orlando
BEST CHEF’S TABLE
1. Chef’s Table at the Edgewater
Winter Garden
chefstableattheedgewater.com
2. Tapa Toro
ICON Orlando 360
tapatoro.restaurant
3. Luma on Park
Winter Park
lumaonpark.com
BEST CHINESE
1. Taste of Chengdu
West Colonial Drive
facebook.com/tasteofchengdu
2. Peter’s Kitchen China Bistro
East Colonial Drive
peterskitchencb.business.site
3. Hawkers Asian Street Fare
Mills 50 District & Windermere
eathawkers.com
BEST DELI
1. Toojay’s
Six Orlando-area locations
toojays.com
2. Publix
Multiple Orlando-area locations
publix.com
3. Stasio’s Italian Deli & Market
Milk District
Stasio’s on Facebook
BEST DESSERTS
1. The Glass Knife
Winter Park
theglassknife.com
2. Better Than Sex
Ivanhoe Village
betterthansexorlando.com
3. The Osprey Tavern
Baldwin Park
ospreytavern.com
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT
1. Kobe Japanese Steakhouse
Multiple Orlando-area locations
kobesteakhouse.com
2. Pal Campo Restaurant
Lake Buena Vista
palcamporestaurant.com
3. 4 Rivers Smokehouse
Six Orlando-area locations
4rsmokehouse.com
BEST FOOD TRUCK
1. Peru Power
facebook.com/perupowerfoodtruck
2. A Lo Cubano Kitchen
facebook.com/alocubanokitchen
3. Gourmet Popcorn Club
facebook.com/gourmetpopcornclub
BEST FRENCH
1. Le Coq au Vin
South Orange Avenue
lecoqauvinrestaurant.com
2. Chez Vincent
Winter Park
chezvincent.com
3. Café de France
Winter Park
lecafedefrance.com
BEST GERMAN
1. Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Café
Sanford
hollerbachs.com
2. The Backhaus
Ivanhoe Village
the-backhaus.com
3. Biergarten Restaurant
Epcot
disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/epcot/biergarten-restaurant
BESTGREEK
1. Taverna Opa
Pointe Orlando
opaorlando.com
2. The Greek Corner
Ivanhoe Village
thegreekcorner.net
3. Mediterranean Blue
East Michigan Street
mediterraneanblue.net
BEST HAPPY HOUR
1. Cocina 214
Winter Park
cocina214.com
2. Reyes Mezcaleria
North Quarter, Orlando
reyesmex.com
3. Taverna Opa
Pointe Orlando
opaorlando.com
BEST HEALTHY SELECTIONS
1. Farm & Haus
Audubon Park & mobile storefront
farmandhaus.com
2. Seasons 52
Restaurant Row & Altamonte Springs
seasons52.com
3. The Sanctum Café
Mills 50 District
thesanctumcafe.com
BEST HOTEL RESTAURANT
1. deep blu seafood grille
Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek
deepbluorlando.com
2. The Boheme
Grand Bohemian Hotel
Downtown Orlando
kesslercollection.com/boheme-restaurant
3. The Venetian Chop House
Caribe Royale Orlando
cariberoyale.com
BEST INDIAN
1. Tamarind
Winter Park & East Orlando
tamarindfl.com
2. Mynt Fine Indian Cuisine
Winter Park
myntorlando.com
3. Maza Indian Restaurant
International Drive
eatatmaza.com
BEST ITALIAN
1. Francesco’s Ristorante & Pizzeria
Maitland
francescos-rist.com
2. Mama Della’s Ristorante
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
universalorlando.com
3. Prato
Winter Park
prato-wp.com
BEST JAPANESE
1. Kobe Japanese Steakhouse
Multiple Orlando-area locations
kobesteakhouse.com
2. Seito Sushi
Baldwin Park & Restaurant Row
seitosushi.com
3. Kadence
Audubon Park
kadenceorlando.com
BEST-KEPT SECRET
1. The Vineyard Wine Company
Lake Mary
thevineyardwinecompany.com
2. Bites & Bubbles
Mills 50 District
bitesbubbles.com
3. Vincenzo Cucina Italiana
International Drive
vincenzosorlando.com
BEST LATE-NIGHT DINING
1. Taverna Opa
Pointe Orlando
opaorlando.com
2. Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria
Milk District
pompomsteahouse.com
3. Tako Cheena
Mills 50 District
mytakocheena.com
BEST LATIN
1. Peru Power Food Truck
facebook.com/perupowerfoodtruck
2. Pal Campo Restaurant
Lake Buena Vista
palcamporestaurant.com
3. Mango’s Tropical Café Orlando
International Drive
mangos.com/Orlando
BEST LIVE MUSIC/ENTERTAINMENT
1. Mango’s Tropical Café Orlando
International Drive
mangos.com/Orlando
2. Taverna Opa
Pointe Orlando
opaorlando.com
3. Tin Roof
ICON Orlando 360
tinrooforlando.com
BEST MEXICAN
1. Cocina 214
Winter Park
cocina214.com
2. Reyes Mezcaleria
North Quarter
reyesmex.com
3. Agave Azul
South Orlando & Winter Park
agaveazulorlando.com
BEST MIDDLE EASTERN
1. Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine
Four Orlando-area locations
bosphorousrestaurant.com
2. Cedar’s Restaurant
Restaurant Row
orlandocedars.com
3. Mediterranean Deli
West Fairbanks Avenue, Orlando
407-539-2650
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT
1. Maxine’s on Shine
Colonialtown
maxinesonshine.com
2. Black Rooster Taqueria
Mills 50 District
blackroostertaqueria.com
3. Teak Neighborhood Grill
MetroWest
teakorlando.com
BEST OLD FAVORITE
1. Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster
Lee Road, Orlando
christnersprimesteakandlobster.com
2. Linda’s La Cantina
East Colonial Drive
lindaslacantina.com
3. The Tap Room at Dubsdread
College Park
taproomatdubsdread.com
BEST OUTDOOR DINING
1. Hillstone
Winter Park
hillstone.com
2. The Tap Room at Dubsdread
College Park
taproomatdubsdread.com
3. Grills Lakeside Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar
North Orange Blossom Trail at Lake Fairview
grillsseafood.com
BEST PIZZA
1. Retro Station Italian Food
Kissimmee
retrostationrestaurant.com
2. Pizza Bruno
Curry Ford Road
pizzabrunofl.com
3. Anthony’s Pizza
Thornton Park
anthonyspizza.com
BEST PLACE FOR COCKTAILS
1. Cocina 214
Winter Park
cocina214.com
2. Mathers Social Gathering
South Magnolia Avenue
mathersorlando.com
3. The Tasting Room
Winter Garden
chefstableattheedgewater.com
BEST POWER LUNCH
1. The Tap Room at Dubsdread
College Park
taproomatdubsdread.com
2. Hillstone
Winter Park
hillstone.com
3. The Boheme
Grand Bohemian Hotel
Downtown Orlando
kesslercollection.com/boheme-restaurant
BEST RAMEN
1. Domu
Audubon Park
domufl.com
2. JINYA Ramen Bar
Thornton Park
jinya-ramenbar.com
3. Seito Sushi
Baldwin Park & Restaurant Row
seitosushi.com
BEST RIBS
1. 4 Rivers Smokehouse
Six Orlando-area locations
4rsmokehouse.com
2. Pig Floyd’s Urban Barbakoa
Mills 50 District & Lake Nona
pigfloyds.com
3. Tony Roma’s
International Drive
tonyromas.com
MOST ROMANTIC
1. The Venetian Chop House
Caribe Royale Orlando
cariberoyale.com
2. Chef’s Table at the Edgewater
Winter Garden
chefstableattheedgewater.com
3. Victoria & Albert’s
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
victoria-alberts.com
BEST SALADS
1. Greens & Grille
Millenia Boulevard
greensandgrille.com
2. Greenbeat
Downtown & Southwest Orlando
green-beat.com
3. The Cheesecake Factory
Winter Park & The Mall at Millenia
thecheesecakefactory.com
BEST SANDWICHES
1. Bad As’s Sandwich
Milk District
badasssandwiches.com
2. Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria
Milk District
pompomsteahouse.com
3. Beefy King
Milk District
beefyking.com
BEST SEAFOOD
1. deep blu seafood grille
Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort
Bonnet Creek
deepbluorlando.com
2. Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen + Bar
Winter Park
reelfishcoastal.com
3. blu on the avenue
Winter Park
bluontheavenue.com
BEST SERVICE
1. deep blu seafood grille
Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort
Bonnet Creek
deepbluorlando.com
2. Chef’s Table at the Edgewater
Winter Garden
chefstableattheedgewater.com
3. Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Three Orlando-area locations
ruthschris.com
BEST SOUTHERN
1. The COOP
Winter Park
asouthernaffair.com
2. Soco
Thornton Park
socothorntonpark.com
3. Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’
Disney Springs
homecominkitchen.com
BEST SPANISH
1. Tapa Toro
ICON Orlando 360
tapatoro.restaurant
2. Bulla Gastrobar
Winter Park
bullagastrobar.com
3. Santiago’s Bodega
Orlando & Altamonte Springs
santiagosbodega.com
BEST STEAK HOUSE
1. Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster
Lee Road, Orlando
christnersprimesteakandlobster.com
2. Linda’s La Cantina
East Colonial Drive
lindaslacantina.com
3. The Venetian Chop House
Caribe Royale Orlando
cariberoyale.com
BEST SUSHI
1. Seito Sushi
Baldwin Park & Restaurant Row
seitosushi.com
2. Sushi Pop
Oviedo & Winter Park
sushipoprestaurant.comhttp://seitosushi.com
3. Kabooki Sushi
Colonialtown
kabookisushi.com
BEST TAKEOUT
1. Farm & Haus
Audubon Park & mobile storefront
farmandhaus.com
2. 4 Rivers Smokehouse
Six.Orlando-area locations
4rsmokehouse.com
3. Black Bean Deli
Mills 50 District & Winter Park
blackbeandeli.com
BEST THAI
1. Thai Blossom
Winter Garden
mythaiblossom.com
2. Orchid Thai Cuisine
Winter Park & Lake Mary
orchidthaiwinterpark.com
3. Sea Thai
East Colonial Drive
seaorlando.com
BEST VEGETARIAN
1. Dandelion Communitea Café
Mills 50 District
dandelioncommunitea.com
2. The Sanctum Café
Mills 50 District
thesanctumcafe.com
3. Ethos Vegan Kitchen
Winter Park
ethosvegankitchen.com
BEST VIETNAMESE
1. Pho 88
Mills 50 District
pho88orlando.com
2. Little Saigon
Mills 50 District
littlesaigonrestaurant.com
3. Viet-Nomz Pho & Street Fare
Winter Park & Waterford Lakes
vietnomzfl.com
BEST VIEW
1. Hillstone
Winter Park
hillstone.com
2. Capa
Four Seasons Resort Orlando at
Walt Disney World Resort
fourseasons.com/Orlando/dining
3. Grills Lakeside Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar
North Orange Blossom Trai at Lake Fairview
grillsseafood.com
BEST WINE BAR
1. The Wine Room
Winter Park
thewineroomonline.com
2. The Vineyard Wine Company
Lake Mary
thevineyardwinecompany.com
3. The Attic Door
Winter Garden
jrsatticdoor.com
BEST WINE LIST
1. The Vineyard Wine Company
Lake Mary
thevineyardwinecompany.com
2. The Venetian Chop House
Caribe Royale Orlando
cariberoyale.com
3. The Wine Room
Winter Park
thewineroomonline.com
