I decided to do my last magical dining for 2026 here. I made a reservation through OpenTable. I…read moredecided to sit at the bar since it was open, and tried the Capari cocktail for 15 dollars. It was literally bitter sweet, with the sweetness coming from the fruits, and the bitterness most likely from the liquor. It was still a good and refreshing drink. For the appetizer, I had to try their unique and popular pork belly s'mores. It looked like a dessert, but a sweet and savory dish. The pork belly was braised nicely and tender, with the marshmallow adding the sweetness. The homemade crackers were very nice, and the jalapeno added a nice kick. The main dish was the bourbon chicken. It was nicely tender and had a hint of sweetness from the bourbon. The rice went well with the chicken, and the broccolini was perfectly grilled. For dessert, the bread pudding with ice cream was a perfect end. Moist and delicious. It was getting full, so I was able to save some and enjoy at home too. The service was attentive with my bartender checking up with me occasionally. They were quite busy, but still friendly. The dining area looked dark and a bit more formal than last time I visited. But still social and relaxing. I didn't get to see the outdoor patio, but it looked nice from the inside. I parked at the UCF/Valencia garage, which was 3 dollars per hour. Sadly, they don't validate parking. I am so happy I ate at the Monroe for my last magical dining. It's been a while since I eaten there, but the food and drinks are still great. I must say the food was definitely high in calories, sugar, and fat, but it was well worth it. It's just that good in a very nice environment. Definitely will come again when I need southern comfort food! Overall: A

We came here for our 2nd magical dining experience for this season and it did not disappoint. We…read moregot seated immediately after briefly taking in the beautiful atmosphere. The server came around and took our orders, promptly brought our water every time our water was low, and checked in on us. I got the Caesar salad, the Mushroom Stroganoff and the bread pudding. All three were delicious. The salad was straightforward and was exactly what I would expect from a Caesar salad, but the stroganoff was the standout. The pasta was perfectly cooked and beautifully presented. The only thing I could say that would make it even better was if it was a little less salty. The mushrooms really carried through, the sauce was creamy, and the micro greens helped brighten up the brown color palate. The desert, I love bread puddings and this had a modern twist. It was served as a square, crispy on the outside, like it was deep fried, covered with cinnamon sugar, but still soft on the inside. It was almost like a bread pudding crossed with a churro, which I loved. Highly recommend, I will also say, I love all their restaurants.

We arrived around 9ish with a 20-minute wait but we were able to beat the morning rush! The inside…read moreis so spacious and clean and the bathroom is just as spotless! Great service overall. It was little slow but they were pretty busy. Food was 10/10! I had the Harry's butter beer latte so delicious. The Tex-Mex was so flavorful and the cinnamon swirl pancake was huge! The portions are so big that two people can easily share. The omelettes come with your choice of toast and home fries or French fries. The food and coffee took a little long to come out but it was so worth it. Definitely come here for breakfast!

The Diner is a popular breakfast, brunch, and lunch restaurant near Universal Studios. It is known…read morefor its New York style comfort food and creative breakfast and brunch dishes. It is a family owned restaurant founded by New York natives who noticed a gap in Central Florida for high quality, authentic New York style diner food. The original location opened on Universal Boulevard in the Lake Cay area, near Universal Orlando and SeaWorld. The restaurant quickly became popular with both locals and vacationers looking for an alternative to the standard hotel breakfast buffet. Following the success of the Universal Boulevard location, the owners expanded to additional Central Florida locations, including Lake Buena Vista and Dr. Phillips. The Diner has gained attention for its creative twists on classic comfort food. One of its signature dishes is the Bennyffle a combination of Eggs Benedict served over a waffle. The menu also features specialty cereal pancakes, including Fruity Pebbles and Oreo Crunch, along with classics such as chicken and waffles. In July 2026, the Universal Boulevard location even became the center of a viral national news story after a family of seven including children reportedly walked out on a $298.47 breakfast bill. The story highlighted how hard family businesses work and how an incident like this can affect them. I recently met up with a group of friends at The Diner for brunch. The Diner can get crowded, and they do not take reservations. I am grateful that one of my friends arrived very early to wait for a table for our group. The diner offers a selection of coffee drinks as well as alcoholic beverages, making it a festive spot for brunch. Since I had a long day ahead, I stuck with coffee and ordered the signature chicken and waffles. The combination was delicious. The crispy, savory fried chicken was the perfect partner to the soft, buttery waffles, while the warm, sweet maple syrup contrasted to the salty chicken. It was a very large portion and I really enjoyed my meal. The service was excellent, and the staff were very accommodating when we needed several separate checks. I loved my visit to The Diner, and the experience was made even better by sharing brunch with a great group of friends. Good food, friendly service, and even better company made for a memorable morning.

first of all!!! yesss!!!…read morecaroline was ahhhhhhmazzzing!!! service 10/10 food 10/10 experience overall 100000/10 just do it!!! everything was incredible! this is officially our favorite brunch spot when we travel!

Jordan R was the best! Very knowledgeable and great service! Was a pleasure during my first visit…read morefrom out of towners! Very big portions - Great food! Marcia from Maryland!

Great American style breakfast/lunch food!…read more The Mac n cheese is super creamy with thick cheesy sauce! The dessert I was expecting something a bit more homemade but either way hit the spot. The service is absolutely amazing the entire team really helps each other out. Really love the bench style seatings as well.

When visiting Orlando, my boyfriend suggested this place near his aunt who we were picking up to…read morestay for the weekend while we visited the family. We arrived just before 10am on a Saturday, and just beat the rush that lines up outside. This place is popping! Order at the counter and pay to have brought out to you. Beverages are also served to you, and you can request a refill. Very cozy place, and love that separately is the bakery so you can do dining, bakery, or both if you desire. What I Enjoyed: - I'm Not Throwing Away My Shot (Hamilton Menu): This scone was on the Hamilton Menu, which I thought was neat as a I'm a theater nerd. My boyfriend said he enjoyed it as it was not too sweet. The ingredients (white chocolate, raspberry, and blueberry) paired well together, and if we were local, he'd get again. - Oatmeal Cream Pie: This was STUNNING. Yes, all caps needed. I think this was one of my favorite baked goods since my cousin stopped her bakery stand selling the best oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I hope this is both a staple item, and we visit Orlando soon to get one! Yum! - se7en Benedict: Loved the biscuits as it tasted like a true southern biscuit. Loved the cheddar chive grits that I shared with my boyfriend who also enjoyed. I'd definitely order again! Definitely check out this place if you are in Orlando!

Did an Uber Eats as I had a 50 percent off promotion. I ordered the chicken fajita omelette, banana…read morepecan waffles, and coffee. It came within an hour as the estimated provided. It was bagged nicely and well organized. The omelette was a generous sized portion with plenty of tender chicken, peppers, and cheese. There was salsa to add a bit of flavor, but it tasted that it was made in New York City (if you remember that commercial ;) ). The white toast was soft and buttery, and the potatoes were good. My mom enjoyed the banana pecan waffles, and I took a couple bites as well. It was sinfully sweet and enjoyable, especially the bananas. And I must say the coffee was so good, it was even better than the Juan Valdez coffee that I make at home. Since I didn't visit the restaurant, I can't comment on the atmosphere. But I believe the service is excellent because they nicely packed all items and kept it organized. I definitely need to take my family to this restaurant. Since the one in Metrowest closed, this is the closest one to us. I am glad the food is still excellent and the coffee keeps you peppy. This is definitely a great breakfast restaurant in the Dr. Phillips area. Overall: A

Yum!!! Fresh off the plane and looking for something off the beaten path, this one fit the bill…read more A brunch spot that was delicious, had great service, was clean, and had the a.c. blasting. Portions were large providing leftovers, which I'm completely on board with. Prices were great! The variety of options were ideal for visitors. Food was served fast. Lastly, plenty of easy and free parking in the shared shopping center lot.

Super cute establishment with Florida vibes. All the food I saw guests eating looked scrumptious…read more Walked right in and sat at the bar. Staff was super kind. Opted for the peanut brittle drink which mixed cold brew with peanut brittle whiskey and cream. Saw some cool deviled eggs on instagram which hooked me in here to begin with. However the ones I got were the basic ones from the menu where as the photo I got fished on was for a seasonal version. However they were still good but I was excited to try something a bit different.

I'm so mad at myself because the food was so good I honestly forgot to take pictures. By the time…read moreI thought about it, we were already eating, and there was no turning back. We visited Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' at Disney Springs, and this was definitely one of my favorite meals while in Orlando. We started with the White Peach Sangria, the Church Lady Deviled Eggs, and the Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp. Now those shrimp deserve their own moment. They're tossed in house-made hot honey and served with remoulade, and they were SO good. Sweet, a little heat, salty from the bacon... just a really good combination. For dinner, we shared Art's Famous Fried Chicken and the Meatloaf Main Plate. The fried chicken is buttermilk-brined for 24 hours and came with creamy mashed potatoes and a cheddar drop biscuit. The chicken was seasoned, juicy, crispy... exactly what fried chicken is supposed to be. And the meatloaf surprised me because I don't usually go somewhere like this thinking, "Let me order the meatloaf." But I'm glad we did. It came with mashed potatoes, Southern green beans, and that cheddar drop biscuit. Comfort food done RIGHT. Everything we had was good. Not "it was okay" good. I mean we were sitting there eating, sharing plates, and talking about how good everything was. And apparently it was good enough for me to completely forget I do food reviews and should probably take pictures first. Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' at Disney Springs... I'll definitely be back.

Great staff and great food. Venezuelan empanadas were crisp…read moreand served at perfect temperatures

This was excellent. Coming back to visit this spot and Chef Louis does an amazing job at hitting…read moreall the flavors and authenticity that was needed for my trip. I felt like I got a piece of Florida before I left. The atmosphere was very clean and the people were helpful and very kind! I will for sure make this a repeated visit whenever I'm in Orlando.

Such a great experience at Sixty Vines in Winter Park! Troy and Kayla were amazing and made us feel…read moreso welcomed from the moment we sat at the bar. They were attentive, personable, and really went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time. The service was excellent, the drinks were delicious, and the whole atmosphere was perfect. They genuinely made the experience stand out, and we'll absolutely be coming back! Make sure you get Troy and Kayla!

Jake was absolutely amazing! He was so personable and attentive, and always seemed to anticipate…read morewhat we needed before we even had to ask. He was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and made the best recommendations. He was also great at suggesting different wines, appetizers, and additions that I never would have considered. Everything he recommended was spot on! You cpull tell he genuinely tried creating a great experience . We will definitely be asking for Jake again!

The Briarpatch is definitely my favorite place in Central Florida for brunch!…read more Something to keep in mind for my visitors from out of town-- on the weekends, parking and lines can be pretty crazy. Briarpatch doesn't take reservations for brunch, but don't worry. I truly have never seen a walk-in line move so quickly! With a line out the door, and even sometimes around the corner, I have never waited more than 20 minutes for a table. Their staff is quick and efficient. Inside, it truly feels like a diner in NYC! There is plenty of patio seating as well, so I know I will be taking advantage of that when the weather cools down here in Florida! Looking for something savory? The short rib benedict is PHENOMENAL!!! Such a creative take on a classic eggs benedict; and packed with flavor. Sweet? The raspberry & brie french toast is my favorite thing on the menu. It is thick cut brioche bread stuffed with raspberry jam & brie cheese. I usually come with a friend, we get one of each of those entrees, and split it! I can never decide!! Keep in mind that the potions are HUGE. You can easily share with a friend!

This was an excellent brunch experience, and it was clear from the quality of the food that making…read moregreat food is a priority here. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully prepared. You could genuinely taste the intentionality in every bite. Be prepared for a long wait on the weekends, as they don't take reservations, but honestly, once you get your food, you understand why. The quality definitely made the wait worthwhile. If you're looking for a brunch spot where quality comes before rushing people in and out, this is one to add to your list. Come hungry, bring a little patience (on the weekend), and enjoy!

I recently went to Maxine's on Shine for dinner. My fiance has been here before, but it was my…read morefirst time. They do get busy so I recommend making a reservation. We were sat within 10 minutes. The ambiance is very eclectic and unique. Our server, Emma was excellent! She was very friendly and gave great recommendations. Thanks Emma. The appetizers were wonderful, the food was good and the drinks excellent! We will be coming back.

Went to Maxine's for magical dining with a group of 7. We were seated in the "chapel" which is a…read moreprivate nook in the back. I was glad to have been seated there as on the way out the main dining area was full, loud, and very warm! We had their happy hour special which was a bottle of wine and a cheese platter, which was extremely well plated and had a nice variety! I think we tried everything on the magical dining menu within our group and everyone was very pleased, except the person who ordered the chicken - she felt she could have made it herself at home so it wasn't as worth it to her. Our server wasn't great to be honest, but she tried. She had trouble understanding us,, and we had trouble understanding her. She also seemed extremely anxious, which several of us noticed. It was really off-putting. We were never offered refills or a chance to order a second drink and we were there over two hours. We also had to go and search for her to get our checks after we'd been done eating for at least 20 minutes. This is what adding auto gratuity does unfortunately - it diminishes service. Maxine's charges 18% gratuity regardless of party size and a 4% higher non-cash price. We knew this in advance and decided to go anyway, but I didn't love it. Had a lovely evening with friends, but I don't feel compelled to revisit again soon.