50 Best American Restaurants in Orlando

“Husband and I were visiting Orlando for the first time and came across Maxine's on Shine. It is such an absolutely incredible charming restaurant! The food was outstanding, with generous and delicious portions, great prices, lots of options and vegan options and drinks but above all -- the hospitality was exceptional! From the greeting from the hostess, discussion with the bartender to the server, busser and owners, they all truly made us feel like a local to the city and appreciative of our business. You really can see the passion from Kirt and Maxine (owners) as it really shines through in every detail in their food, decor and ambiance of the restaurant and you can see that same passion in their staff! My husband and I went for dinner on a Saturday night and had such a wonderful experience that we simply had to go back on Sunday for the brunch before leaving town. Truly an AMAZING experience and such wonderful people! 100 STARS!!!“

“First time there a few months ago…. From Texas and the food was fabulous and service was great… and can we talk about the desert… oh my heaven… I highly recommend must stop while in Orlando and also got to meet Trina the Chef and Owner was so pleasant and friendly.. thank you Trina for the experience“

“Excellent food—creative menu. Outstanding wait staff. Fun to watch the team in the kitchen from our bar perch. No question we’d return next trip to Orlando. If you live here you are lucky! Support your local gourmet!“

“So delicious! Excellent service from everyone, especially our server Shaun. He was so thorough and answered all our questions. The Cedar Key clams were to die for! I had the scallops and my husband had the burger for dinner- so freaking amazing ! I can’t say enough about this place! The owner was walking through the dining room checking on everyone, greeting everyone - thank you Carol for an exceptional experience!“

“Excellent service. Delicious food“

“Absolutely amazing service. Jojo was fantastic, as were our 2 waiters this evening. We sat outside, beautiful atmosphere. Food was excellent. 5+stars. We are lucky to be local, we will be back!“

“Great food and service in a pleasant setting (although, as in many places, the seats are uncomfortable). Swine & Son's food operation is top-notch. I especially enjoyed the house pastrami -- smokey and just the right amount of spice. My friend praised her smashburger.“

“I am NOT a minions person, but the atmosphere is still fun and the food we chose was phenomenal. Gru's porkbelly sandwhich and the minion fries are surprisingly great and the asian chicken/noodles are incredible with a unique flavor (though could use more of the chicken seasoning on the noodles). Been three times, consistently good.“

“I usually don’t write reviews, however this place is great! The staff is friendly and polite, the food is delicious and served quickly, and the staff are happy and do their jobs efficiently with a smile! It shows that they are happy and must be a great place to work. Keep doing what you’re doing“

“This place must have had change in management - no idea why rating is so low. Food was awesome. Gluten free options for my girls were amazing. The GF truffle Mac and cheese was a favorite. The filet steak was really good. Magicians on Friday night was a super fun touch.“

“I recently dined at island dining room and it was an outstanding experience from start to finish. The ambiance was inviting, creating the perfect setting for a memorable meal.

The star of our evening, however, was our waitress, Katherine. She was attentive, knowledgeable, and incredibly friendly, making us feel welcome and well-cared-for throughout our visit. Her recommendations were spot-on, and her ability to balance professionalism with genuine warmth truly enhanced our dining experience.

The food was exceptional, beautifully presented, and bursting with flavor. Each dish demonstrated a commitment to quality and creativity.

Katherine's exceptional service, combined with the delicious food and delightful atmosphere, made our evening truly special. I highly recommend this restaurant and look forward to our next visit!“

“Had a fabulous evening. Service was excellent. But it was a late booking as there were no earlier tables available - which was disappointing. All the staff were friendly & professional. Would recommend family and friends.“

“food was good I enjoyed my self good service“

“Went here several times with and without our dog. Came here recently during hurricane Milton and had to bring our dog and this place sat us with no questions unlike other places in the area. Our dog is small and quiet and while other places in the hotel wouldn't allow us in Jake's did. I understand laws but but at times like these there are exceptions. Food and service was better than other places. Thanks Jake's staff! And great job Sunshine!“

“Awesome place with super cool people and service! Always love coming here when we visit from Canada 🇨🇦“

“Best restaurant in town. I stayed in the Holiday Inn across the street. I ordered the Burger and the seasoning is crazyyy the food will blow your mind. Would definitely recommend this place“

“We already love Shin Jung, but, sadly, we aren’t there as often as I’d like. The food is fantastic, atmosphere is casual but comfortable and the service is friendly and efficient. I had the Dolsot Bibimbab served in a steaming, sizzling hot pot—beef, mushrooms, sprouts, cucumbers and shredded g carrots and radish. It was delicious on its own but adding the table sauces made it sing. Along with entrees comes a variety of Korean sides as is typical for this cuisine. It included, fish cakes, potato salad, paper thin sliced pickled radish and three Kimchi preparations—classic cabbage, as well as cubes of cucumber and radish. If the food wasn’t enough, our server, Julianna, made our lunch all the more pleasurable with her sweet demeanor and friendly nature. And it wasn’t just us. We watched how she served other diners with the same affable, yet professional treatment. Remember when I said we don’t get there very often? Well, when we walked in, Julianna (without knowing us at all) greeted us like we were regulars coming in for the hundredth time. It’s hard to put a value on that kind of welcoming feeling and it seems to come naturally for her. Thanks Julianna! Highly recommended. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Great place for food, went several times on my trip and the staff were friendly and amazing too. Anyone know Ashley that works behind the bar? 🍺“

“Byleigh is one of the best bartenders great fast service with a smile and will make you laugh.“

“I have no idea what the people who rated this establishment lower are talking about. The service, food, atmosphere and general ambiance were exceptional. After dining in some of the higher end resort hotels in Disney this Universal treat beats them hands down. Even with the construction maze one has to navigate that may detract a bit one must remember it is not the fault of the restaurant and they more than make up for this slight inconvenience by their service.“

“Wonderful first experience. Glad I tried it. Food was definitely the best at a park I’ve had. The steak was tender and huge and comparable to outside fine dining. Cauliflower bites were awesome.“

“Austin was the best. Food was so good“

“Beef brisket was delicious.“

“Good food! Nice staff. Pizza and chicken parmigiana absolutely delicious“

“Great tasting healthy food options. They should also consider offering no sugar added versions of Bolay drinks like the Pineapple and Ginger“

“I stopped in with a coworker of mine the other night and I just can’t say enough good things about the service at this location! The bartender, Cole was so positive and attentive! We asked to speak to a manager and he brought over Ashley, who was just as friendly as he was! Answered all our questions about our upcoming Christmas party and just went above and beyond to make us feel welcome! We will definitely be back soon!“

“plenty of parking. easily sat all our friends and everyone was very friendly.“

“excelente servicio de calidad en especial Denise , la comida riquísima y sus aperitivos . el ambiente y sus presentaciones de comida bellísima“

“BOGO Wings Mondays!!! Bartender Reese is the best!!“

“Ate Sunday brunch. Staff was very friendly, food was delicious and served fast. Bartender (Hailey) was very polite and responsive. Good atmosphere. Would come back!“

“great food, very good and the sevice was excellent!“

“Amazing atmosphere to hang out grab a drink and eat great food!“

“The restaurant was amazing“

“Fabulous family owned restaurant that draws locals back! Regardless of whether I’m having breakfast or lunch, I ALWAYS order their Hungarian beef & cabbage soup!“

“I’ve checked in here 4x already, and it’s very family friendly. Also, sir Miguel if very helpful and jolly when welcoming us. My family and friends that I brought here is really happy to meet him.“

“I absolutely love this restaurant Everytime I visit the city I have too stop and grab my favorite and delicious food s.The freshness and quality says it all!!The service provided by the staff leaves you feeling so much love.Thank You Authentic Gyros for providing the best food and service!!“

“We had an amazing time at Keg Social Orlando celebrating a birthday! We enjoyed bowling, axe throwing, and the arcade, which provided hours of fun. The venue offers something for everyone, regardless of age—our group ranged from 11 to 41 years old, and everyone had a blast. The food and drinks from the bar were fresh and delicious, and the DJ kept the party atmosphere lively. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, making our experience even better. Highly recommend for a fun and memorable outing for all ages!“

“The service so horrible. They automatically add 20%for the tip when our server was RUDE AND NON existent. I would NEVER return. No one was there. The food was nasty as well. First and last time here I was so excited to come but left SO disappointed“

“Had a 5 star experience waitress Sondra was top tier.“

“Great feel, even better food and staff that has you planning your next visit before you leave. Thank you Chef Nikk and Fred!!“

“Great place to take the fam any time of day. Everyone always happy here. Love it!“

“Liz is amazing at the bar ! we go most Sunday afternoons! Food is also amazing.“

“I gave it a 4 because the ac didn't work the night we were there and it was so dang hot in there.We actually took our desert to go because it was just a sauna in there at 830pm at night. They service was great and the food was good .Steak was a little fatty but all and all ok.“

“Great spot for families and food and service is excellent“

“Excellent service, atmosphere, and food.“

“Just wanted to thank Sierra for her service when I come w my friends. She always makes everything easy, suggest different things, and never makes us feel like a burden with complicated orders. This place is very convenient in location and to watch the game and fights. Thank you again, Sierra!“

“Highball & Harvest - Orlando - 4.5 Stars "If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst forth at once in the sky, that would be like the splendor." -- Gita Highball & Harvest is a restaurant inside the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The Ritz works very hard to deliver an amazing overall experience whether in lodging or in dining. While I did not stay at the hotel itself, the opulence that surrounds you upon entering the restaurant is sumptuous. You have to take a circuitous route to get to this eatery but once seated you have great views of lush flora and fauna that are carefully manicured. The attention to detail is astounding. The only downside to this spot is that the open air nature of this area caused sound to reverberate. Normally, this is not a big deal, but there was a gaggle of men hard-pitching what sounded like a Ponzi-like scheme to some young adults nearby. I tried to ignore them, but the leader of the pitch had a bellowing voice that carried throughout the place. He looked and sounded just like Marty Funkhouser from "Curb Your Enthusiasm." It was hard to avert my eyes because he apparently had obtained hair transplants years ago and did not have the foresight to consider future baldness. So he had perfect rows of wispy red hair on his head, a complete ring of baldness, and then more hair. Anyway, while this is a major digression from the point it was hilarious to watch and listen. I didn't need to stick my head in my phone for entertainment. Now, back to my culinary experience. Highball & Harvest has, like all modern American restaurants, a craft drink menu. A highball is another name for cocktail, which was big in usage at the turn of the last century. I chose to imbibe and picked the Industrialist from the menu. This consisted of Woodford Reserve double bourbon, Creme de' Menthe, and Fernet Branca. How they came up with this combination is beyond me but WOW! - it works. I ordered three sides instead of a full meal this time, choosing brussel sprouts with sherry-maple gastrique, Jimmy Red's goat cheese grits, and red cabbage deviled eggs. At first I was worried about the maple gastrique but my worry was for naught. The maple was barely noticeable but the sugars gave a potent punch on the finish. Now, as far as cheese grits go, I will eat them whenever they're on the menu. These Jimmy Red's had so much wonderful cheese I almost want to call it cheese with grits - truly amazing. Finally the deviled eggs: The chef who designed these eggs should get national recognition. The filling was smooth and creamy. The red cabbage finish topped with the pumpernickel crouton is the kind of crisp, clean, simple dish I so enjoy. I can't say enough good things about Highball & Harvest. Their dishes are simple, yet complex, and contain the right balance of flavors with recipes that are outside of the proverbial box. Please, I implore you to go experience Highball & Harvest, so sayeth the Big Bo“

“Good food, staff friendly“

“Hidden gem in Orlando. Best gyro in the city, hands down.“

“Awesome food great beers and awesome staff...meaning bar tender“