According to Visit Orlando, there are more than 5,300 restaurants in the Orlando area. Some are perfect for date night; some… not so much.
To help navigate couples towards the city’s best (and most romantic) eateries, I asked Rona Gindin, food writer and dining aficionado, to share her favorite picks with Great Dates Orlando readers.
Here are her first two suggestions:
Vine’s Grille & Wine Bar
With its flashy decor and sky-high prices Vine’s mostly appeals to conventioneers – but it’s a great night’s destination. Dinner itself is impressive. One of you can be adventurous with grilled octopus, say, and housemade gnocchi with goat cheese and sausage, while the other feasts on simple yet splendid dry-aged steaks. Then step into the comfortable lounge for a nightcap, where live jazz plays nightly.
7533 W. Sand Lake Rd., Orlando, 407-351-1227
Taverna Opa Orlando
Taverna Opa is far from romantic— it’s festively loud and filled with revelers. Yet, dinner at this truly good Greek restaurant is a good bet for couples who want a bit of umph in their evening. Wiggle your middles with a belly dancer (keep the camera handy), then join other diners as they weave through the dining room doing a lively Zorba line dance and joyfully toss white paper napkins into the air shouting, “Opa!”
Pointe Orlando, 9101 International Drive, Orlando, 407-879-2481
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