Dining in Orlando

International Drive
Nelore Churrascaria, a recently opened Brazilian-style Churrascaria steakhouse on International Drive, prepares high-quality beef in upscale surroundings. The restaurant features 17 cuts of beef, pork, chicken and seafood that are grilled over an open pit. These items are then served table-side by a steady stream of "Gauchos," who slice the meat to-order. A unique salad bar that includes 46 hot and cold items is also available.

At Tabla Bar & Grill, just minutes from International Drive, Executive Chef Shabber's classically innovative dishes are prepared with authentic, centuries-old recipes and are filled with fresh ingredients. Tabla's menu consists of rotating regional Indian specialties while the favorites stay constant, and every dish models a modern technique of preparation and presentation. Tabla Bar & Grill also offers a full bar serving a wide variety of fusion drinks, a party hall and a banquet facility.

Downtown Orlando
Citrus Restaurant emphasizes fresh American cuisine with a definitive Latin influence. Located on Orange Avenue, the restaurant provides a contemporary atmosphere with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients. The menu includes blue crab cakes, marinated skirt steak, bacon-wrapped Maine scallops and yellow fin tuna. Operated by Urban Life Management Restaurant Group, Citrus was presented with a Golden Spoon Award as one of the "Top 20 Best New Restaurants in Florida" by Florida Trend magazine.

Metro Orlando
The Village Tavern, located on Conroy Road near The Mall at Millenia, celebrates freshly prepared, classic American food in a chic and modern atmosphere. All menu items are made from scratch, with its aged beef cut onsite. Favorites include bacon-wrapped scallops, Maryland-style crab cakes, steak frites, grilled Ahi tuna, marinated flank steak and wood-oven pizzas and flatbreads. The tavern also serves specialty cocktails and martinis, micro-brewed beer and fine wines. A brunch menu is available on Sunday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. that features a complimentary glass of sparkling wine or a mimosa, in addition to modernized classics like steak Benedict, a southwest frittata and an Italian quiche.

Replacing the former Dan Marino's space at Veranda Park, Tavern on the Lake emphasizes fresh seasonal ingredients and an international wine list. Its menu serves indulgent, yet lighter fare such as roasted salmon, grilled quail, skirt steak, jumbo sea scallops and rack of New Zealand lamb. The wine list offers nearly 60 selections by the glass or the bottle. Tavern on the Lake has also been remodeled to include an enhanced interior color palette and re-styled ambient lighting, in addition to incorporating environmentally friendly practices such as using as recycled paper and glass products.

Hotel/Resort
Serving U.S. Prime and aged Midwestern corn-fed beef, PorterHouse at the Orlando Airport Marriott thrives on generous portions and attentive, old-school service. The menu, developed by Executive Chef Anthony Hull, features 100 percent natural Angus beef that is also certified "Humane" by Humane Farm Animal Care, an independent, non-profit organization that monitors the ethical treatment of feed cattle. From a 12-ounce N.Y. strip steak or a 36-ounce Porterhouse big enough for two, to pan-seared breast of duck and grilled Atlantic swordfish, the eatery sets a new standard for hi-end steakhouses.

Located at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resort, Il Mulino New York Trattoria is an award-winning Italian eatery features fresh seafood, steaks and imported ingredients. Diners may select from wild mushroom risotto, grilled ribeye steak or tortellini alla panna, among many other classically prepared dishes.