The best places to eat in Florida
The US state of Florida is home to some of the finest restaurants in the United States, and contrary to popular perception, many of the state's best restaurants are located in lesser-known places such as Venice and Marco Island. That said, the more famous areas of the state also feature their share of dynamic and exciting eating places. All told, this means that fine dining is a fundamental aspect of the Florida lifestyle.
Fine dining in Orlando
As one might expect, some of the best restaurants in Orlando are based on a theme. At Victoria & Albert's, located in Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, that theme is romance. The dining room is decorated with lavish elements that will call to mind the luxuries that Queen Victoria and Prince Albert took for granted, but unlike in many eateries, the ambience here is auditory as well as visual. Romance is in the air, literally, in the form of the harp music that lends a calming, soothing feel, complementing the excellent food and exquisitely prompt and polite service.
Orlando is also noted for the Venetian Room located at the Caribe Royale Resort. The cuisine at the Venetian Room is based on traditional modern delicacies and includes items such as roasted veal chops, seared filet mignon, Chilean sea bass, and sautéed Dover sole.
Venice's best restaurant
Venice is a small city located at about the mid-point of Florida's Gulf Coast, but the dishes available at the Crow's Nest Marina Restaurant could easily be mistaken for those served in the best restaurants in New York City. The Crow's Nest Marina Restaurant specialises in fresh seafood and offers a wide selection of gluten-free choices. Excellent choices recommended by frequent diners include bouillabaisse, seafood bisque, and grouper Key Largo, which is served with a creamy, decadent hollandaise sauce. Vegetable specialties include such delicacies as Brussels sprouts served with cream and bacon. Also highly recommended are the fresh scallops, remarkable for their size and succulence.
Eating out on Marco Island
Much of Florida's coastline is ringed by narrow islands. Marco Island is one such and is situated along the state's Gulf Coastline, but significantly to the south of Venice. The best restaurant on Marco Island is widely believed to be the Marco Polo Restaurant and Lounge, a place where both American and seafood dishes are presented in finest form. Marco Polo features live music on some evenings and is known for its romantic ambience and excellent wine list. Specialties of the house include soufflés, roasted scallops, and crab cakes served with roasted corn salsa.
Fine dining in Lake Wales
Visitors to Lake Wales should make time to visit the Chalet Suzanne Restaurant, which is located in a charming country inn. Chalet Suzanne features traditional American cuisine served with European flair. Specialities of the house include Maryland crab cakes, Lobster Newburg, escargot, duck confit à l'orange, and caramelised grapefruit served with organic chicken livers.
Both Florida's large cities and its smaller towns offer excellent dining choices that make living in Florida, or visiting on holiday, a positive pleasure.
