Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
172
3800 Chalet Suzanne Dr., Lake Wales.
&
800-433-6011.
www.chaletsuzanne.com. Reservations recom-
mended. Main courses $28-$42; 5-course prix-fixe dinner $59-$78. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Tues-Sun 10am-
2pm; Tues-Thurs 5-8pm; Fri-Sat 5-9pm. Free self-parking.
MODERATE
Carrabba's
ITALIAN Here's yet another chain, but one that is well run with
above-average food. The menu features such specialties as
tagliarini picchi pacchiu
(a fine
pasta with crushed tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and basil served with either chicken or
shrimp) and
pollo Rosa Maria
(fire-roasted chicken stuffed with Fontina cheese and pro-
sciutto, and topped with mushrooms and a basil lemon butter sauce). Also available are
wood-fired pizzas, an array of soups and salads, pastas, and other favorite Italian classics.
The atmosphere is casual but lively; the interior features a show kitchen and lots of
exposed brick. Don't forget to save room for dessert—they're large enough to share
(though you may not want to!).
Note:
A second location has recently opened in Lake
Buena Vista (on Vineland Rd. between the Orlando Premium Outlets and S.R. 535).
7890 Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy. (U.S. 192), in the Formosa Gardens Plaza, Kissimmee.
&
407/390-
9600.
www.carrabbas.com. Main courses $10-$24 dinner only. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Sun-Thurs 4-10pm;
Fri-Sat 4-11pm. Free self-parking. From I-4 take exit 64 for U.S. 192, continue on, and it is on the left in
the Formosa Gardens Plaza.
Pacino's Italian Ristorante
NORTHERN ITALIAN The house specialty, veal
osso buco,
is a delicious collision of veal shank, mushrooms, Barolo wine, herbs, and
mushrooms. At 32 ounces, the porterhouse steak is a belly-buster, and the house's
frutti
di mare
has shrimp, calamari, clams, and scallops sautéed with white wine and herbs and
heaped onto a mound of linguine. The open two-story interior is filled with exposed
brick, wrought iron accents, and a ceiling with fiber optics that creates the illusion of
dining under the stars. The second story offers more intimate seating overlooking the
interior courtyard below. Grape vines are strewn throughout for an authentic feel. Out-
door seating is available on the patio.
5
Tips
Downtown Delights
Orlando's revitalized downtown area is now home to some chic clubs and
trendy upscale restaurants well worth a second look—and the 20-minute drive.
Hue
, 629 E. Central Blvd. (
&
407/849-1800;
www.huerestaurant.com), rec-
ognized in 2003 by
Condé Nast Traveler
as “one of the best new restaurants in the
world,” lives up to its reputation thanks to creative American cuisine and a
sophisticated urban loft atmosphere.
Kres Chophouse
, 17 W. Church St.
(
&
407/447-7950;
www.kresrestaurant.com), a not-so-distant relative of Hue,
offers an ever-changing menu of traditional yet exceptional steakhouse fare,
as well as an extensive wine list.
Citrus Restaurant
, 821 N. Orange Ave.
(
&
407/373-0622;
www.citrusorlando.com), serves fresh American cuisine with
a definitive Latin influence in a contemporary atmosphere. Blue crab cakes, mari-
nated skirt steak, bacon-wrapped Maine scallops, and yellowfin tuna are just a
sampling of what you'll find on the menu.
Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant,
125
W. Church St. (
&
321/281-8140;
www.ceviche.com), serves up over 100 different
tapas, each created from recipes and ingredients imported directly from north-
ern Spain and Catalan to ensure an authentic flavor.
