Treats and Eats in Florida 🇺🇸

Part of my Real Florida Guide

Many people think that a meal in Florida means McDonalds, McDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut, with some character dining at Disney thrown in. Not so!

Ok, I can’t lie to you and say that Florida is known for its fine cuisine, but it definitely offers up pretty much anything you could wish for on your plate. And a big plate, at that.

There are so many places that I have discovered over the years that are surprisingly good (far too many to mention in one blog) – and all without the cliché juicy burger taking centre stage or the predictability of overpriced, plastic park food hogging the limelight. But I did want to share some of them with you, and I’ll keep to the central Florida area.

Fancy some Spanish with your sunshine?

If that’s a ‘Si’, then you can’t go wrong with Cafe Tu Tu Tango on International Drive in Orlando.

Step inside this brightly coloured restaurant and you’re immediately greeted with art, art and even more art – all of which is sold on the premises and painted by local artists whilst you sit and soak up the ambience. Of course, it goes without saying that the food is delicious (posh sliders, fancy flatbreads, taster-plate tacos – and all finished off with gooey chocolate dipped cheesecake lollipops) – and it’s very reasonably priced too.

Equally delicious, is Tapa Toro – also found on International Drive. This fantastico Spanish restaurant may be in the heart of tourist-ville, but the food does not suffer at all – not one bit. Their ‘cooked-from-fresh’ paella dishes are gigantic and there’s more than enough for two people to share.

Tapa Toro is not the cheapest place you’ll find. For example, a sharer paella and jug of sangria with a tip came in at around $120 (last time we went was in 2019), but it’s definitely somewhere to consider if you fancy a treat. You’ll also be treated to some flamenco dancing whilst you eat too, so all of that is built into the price. Have another jug of sangria and you may well think you’re in Seville!

Come to the states for steak?

Quite likely because nowhere does steak like America does steak! You won’t find much better than Manny’s Original Chophouse in Haines City (Polk County) – or its franchises in Winter Haven and Kissimmee.

There are tonnes of steakhouses in Florida, but for a vibrant, fun-filled diner-environment and first-class fillet, you simply must try Manny’s. If you stay in Haines City like we do (check out the accommodation section), the original chophouse is right on your doorstep. This is a big hit with me and an even bigger hit with my partner who is more of a steak connoisseur than I ever will be. It’s also the place I recommend to everyone who goes to Florida – and they all rave over it too!

One thing to note, however, is that it is always – and I mean always – super-busy so you’re well advised to use their ‘call ahead’ system, which basically means phone up before you set off and they’ll put you in the queue. There are no airs and graces in Manny’s Chophouse – just good hearty grub in seriously cool surroundings (oh and the best complimentary brioche buns and salad).

If a more sophisticated steak experience is what you’re after, you could do worse than the Longhorn Steakhouse.

Whilst this is a far-reaching chain (unlike Manny’s), we have never found the food to suffer and have always had a delicious meal, paired with a nice bottle of red.

You’ll find Longhorn Steakhouses all across Florida so it doesn’t matter where you are, you can always satisfy your urge for a filet mignon!

If seafood is the only food…

Well, you will be in seventh heaven! Snow crab, king crab, coconut shrimp, lobster, clam chowder – you name it, Florida has it – by the bucket load!

There are some great chains, such as Joes Crab Shack and Red Lobster, as well as small independents like Hungry Crab, out in Davenport. It’s hard to pick a favourite in all honesty, but with seafood not being the cheapest, the indies may help the dollar go further. You’re more likely to sip soup from a beaker rather than bowl and receive your meal in a wire basket or boil in the bag – but hey, we love a bit of rustic charm! No frills, no fuss – just great lobster, crab, clams and oysters, straight from the sea. These are the places the locals go – and they always know!

Avoid: Orlando and Kissimmee (in particular) have a number of all-you-can-eat seafood establishments. Whilst these can be viewed as good value for money, the reality is that the quality is usually sub-standard and the ambiance lacking. With the offer to ‘eat as much lobster as you like’, coupled with some pretty greedy people, the wastage is rather sickening. It all feels quite nasty and that’s why we only went once and never returned.

A tip on tipping:

Be sure to tip in restaurants. If you get good service – and you likely will – make sure your server gets somewhere between 15 and 20% of your total tab. Of course it’s not compulsory to tip but that friendly waiter/ waitress is probably only earning a small wage and their tips subsidise their salary, unlike in the UK where we have ‘minimum wage’ in place. And yes, they are also taxed on their tips. So, be sure to factor tipping into your holiday budget.

When you feel the need for speed…

The USA, as a whole, is full of fast food chain restaurants – many famous the world over – and there are plenty of places to get a ‘quick fix’ for lunch.

In addition to the more widely recognised McDonalds, KFC, Wendys, Burger King and Pizza Hut, other fast food chains to look out for include Chick-fill-a, Taco Bell, Checkers, Arby’s, Chilli’s and Steak ‘n’ Shake. If it’s more of a breakfast that you’re after, you can’t go far wrong with Denny’s, Cracker Barrel or IHOP (International House of Pancakes).

Strange but true: Although there are some about, you won’t spot many Chinese or Indian restaurants in Central Florida – independents or chains. If you can prove me wrong, please do by leaving a comment on this blog!

What about dieting on holiday? – is it even possible?

The answer is yes – sort of. I know what you’re thinking – who goes on holiday and wants to diet? True enough – nobody, not ever. However, it’s probably advisable to occasionally to make a few healthier choices, or else risk going home a stone heavier. To help with this, I’ve some ‘tried and tested’ meal tips that may help.

When the heart longs for a Denny’s pancake stacked high with bananas, cream and lashings of dulce de leche, you can resist the temptation and order the veggie skillet instead. Tempting as it is to opt for the sweet treats, these loaded pancakes will set you back in excess of 1200 calories which is a bit crazy if they’re your breakfast! The ‘Fit Fare Veggie Sizzlin’ Skillet’ on the other hand, comes in at just 390 calories – and it’s really good too – a tasty plate of red-skinned potatoes, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms and broccoli, finished with scrambled egg and tomato. I couldn’t even manage it all – it was that filling!

You can also put your willpower to the test and have a McDonalds salad instead of a Big Mac. You think I’m joking, but I’m not! There are inevitably those times when you just need a quick, simple and inexpensive lunch – and McDonalds seems the obvious choice as there are so many of them dotted about in Florida. Ditching your favourite value meal for a salad instead is a tough call for any burger-lover, but the salad is actually pretty good. The bacon ranch grilled chicken salad will save you a whopping 700 calories on a Big Mac meal. Their iced coffee without sweetener is also a good alternative to a full-fat coke, at just 80 calories!

I think we can all agree that saving calories has to be a good thing, but low calorie food tastes rubbish doesn’t it? Not in crab shacks it doesn’t! Crab meat is so low calorie and for crab-loving people like me, this is the best news since sliced bread (soaked in butter).

At just 400 calories for a whole pound of these monster legs, they are not only a healthy meal choice, but also great fun to try and eat! Ok, so the clarified butter that crab legs usually come accompanied by may ramp that calorie figure up somewhat, but you’re making the effort – and that’s what matters! Overall, a 10/10 for taste and diet points!

Self-catering? Head to the supermarket!

Like the UK, and elsewhere in the world, America has a number of supermarket chains that you’ll find in all States, not solely Florida. Firstly, you’ve got ‘Walmart’, which can best be compared to the British Asda. Then there’s ‘Target’, which feels more like a British Tesco, ‘Publix’ comparable to Sainsburys and ‘Winn Dixie’, a little like Morrisons. Aldi, is just Aldi the world over!

There’s nothing overly different about shopping in the Florida supermarkets as there is in the UK – both sell groceries, alcohol, clothing and homeware. One difference you might find is that the fruit and vegetables section is far bigger and better, but it is Orange County, after all. Another is that you’ll notice how much bigger the bottles of wine are – super-size me baby! One other difference – Walmart sells firearms which I’m pretty certain Asda does not! That’s America for you!

Regardless of similarities and differences when supermarket shopping in Florida, us Brits can’t help but smile at some of the food offerings on the shelves. And this is just one of the reasons why I love Florida!

Thanks for reading this part of the guide, I hope it’s tickled the tastebuds! If you have any eating suggestions for my next trip to Florida, please share in the comments below 👇🏻