In the Kissimmee area for example, the main drag along the US192 is full of restaurants, and of course some are better than others.

Now I am old and wise enough to know that recommending restaurants is asking for trouble, so this is just an overview of some we have tried, and what is generally on offer.

The breakfast buffet deals, of course, are legendary. Places like the Ponderosa Steakhouse offer an “all you can eat” breakfast for $3.99 (drinks are extra). There’s a very wide choice of food from the healthy to the very unhealthy, and you can certainly skip lunch after one of these extravaganzas. The buffet experience also enables you to sample American favourites such as grits, and biscuits and gravy.

More upmarket – and not too far from the 192 – is the Market St Café in Celebration. It is a typical smart American diner and the food is good, without being too expensive. You can create your own breakfast and the Eggs Benedict is a speciality.

For dinner, you can find Chinese buffets, Mexican, Italian, Thai, Indian and Japanese. Sea food restaurants abound and often supply buffet menus. Try The Crab House, Red Lobster, or Angel’s Lobster and Seafood Feast.

If you are looking for the American experience, there are many diners which give very good value such as Bahama Breeze, Chilli’s, and Logan’s Road House (free peanuts on the table, just throw the shells on the floor!). And remember that the burger you order in the US will be a proper burger with 100% meat, unlike the version you would avoid back home in the UK.

A trip to Downtown Disney, or the Universal Boardwalk gives you the opportunity to try out some very nice restaurants, such as the Rainforest Café, Wolfgang Puck, Fulton’s Crabhouse, and Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville.

For a more sophisticated dining experience, many hotels have more exclusive surroundings. The Omni, near Champions Gate, has several restaurants none of which would break the bank.

Another area for smart restaurants, where it’s probably best not to wear shorts, is just off International Drive on West Sand Lake Rd.  There you can try the Timpano Chophouse and Martini Bar, Seasons 52, and Antonio’s. Antonio’s also has a sister business called Cafe D’Antonio in Celebration where you’ll enjoy “…the taste and style of a more expensive place”

Don’t forget your discount coupons. Many of the more popular restaurants and diners accept discount coupons to be found in coupon books from tourist information centres.

Coffee and “sodas” (coke, sprite etc) are generally topped up at your table for free, and you won’t even have to ask.

Tipping is always the problem. It is very rare to get poor service and a tip of between 15% and 20% is expected. Remember that waiters are poorly paid in the US, and rely on tips. It certainly ensures that service is good. Do check your check (bill) carefully though; some restaurants will add the tip on automatically, so don’t tip twice!

Andy Brownlie

It’s a question we regularly ask ourselves when we are intending to eat out either for breakfast, lunch or evening meal.

A variation of that same question can often come from guests. Usually guests who are visiting for the first time.

Like many who have been the area more than once you soon become aware that the choice of eating establishments is enormous.

Breakfast is easy. If we want to fill up prior to a days activities it would be one of the ‘eat as much as you like’ establishments, usually Ponderosa (192 opposite the old town).

Lunch time eating out would depend on where we were. If we were at the house the choice would be between Beef O’Bradys, Chili’s or Applebee’s

Evening dining out can be a little more difficult.

If we had a family debate every time we ate out for our evening meal we would be never get out to eat.

In our family depending on who is making the final decision where to eat for an evening meal it’s usually a forgone conclusion for the rest of us where that person would choose.

Carol, my wife would choose chili’s (Champions Gate) or Applebee’s (H27). Her reasoning would be that both places have a good choice on the menu at very reasonable prices. However the deciding factor for her would be that they are both with in a few minutes drive from our house so she could get back, pour a red wine, soak in the spa and chill out.

My eldest daughter would probably choose either Antonio’s or The Columbia Restaurant both in Celebration.

The menu is more expensive than other eating establishments but in our experience the food has always been excellent and if I’m picking up the bill what do the others care what it costs.

For my youngest daughter and me it would have to be Logan’s roadhouse (opposite the old town 192). If their was one thing I could bring home to the UK it would be a Logan’s roadhouse.

The menu choice is good but for me you could take everything off and just leave the stakes.

The pub / sports bar set up is excellent, we have never been rushed, the staff are laid back, you can drink beer or spirits and you get the bonus of walking over to the old town to check out the old cars and motorbikes (if you pick the right evening) and spend forever deciding which one I’m going to buy and ship home.

In your dreams (as carol would say).

Eating out in Florida is not as easy as you may think.