Formerly known as J.R.’s attic Door, this Winter Garden wine and music spot is now owned by the folks from Chef’s Table at the Edgewater and the Tasting Room, which means they’ve also added a food element. Good food, too. The gumbo is as good as any you’ll find in New Orelans.

There’s a new chef and a new menu, but Aurora is still a top choice for more upscale fare in the UCF area.

Located in the Lake Nona Wave Hotel, Bacán is vibrantly upscale in both decor and cuisine. Go early and walk through the sculpture garden with a glass of wine or cocktail before heading in to dinner.

A good sandwich shop with a cheeky name.

The Park Avenue Barnie’s has been trying to find its food foothold for years. The menu is less ambitious than in years past but the output is more realistic.

The atmosphere at Big Easy is casual to the point of having a diner feel. The kitchen is open (you could easily see a row of stools there) and there are more windows than wall space for decorations, it seems. The bare-topped tables are a royal purple. Of course, some of the best food in New Orleans can be found in uber casual spaces.
But nothing I tasted at Big Easy had me longing to return. The gumbo was a more watery version, which is how many Louisianans prefer it — less thickening in the roux. But it also didn’t have much characteristic flavor.
Neither did the jambalaya, which was also overly dry. Estelle’s crawfish etouffe (no, no idea who Estelle is) looked the way it is supposed to, more of a brown gravy. But it was just bland. Both entrees were served with cornbread that had a texture similar to pound cake, smooth rather than crumbly.

It’s much more interesting for its on-site beer brewing than the food, which is rather mundane. This is a non-Disney-owned restaurant, operated by Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Group out of Tennessee.

Located in the Marriott hotel in Lake Mary (which for some reason is called the Orlando Marriott), this three-mealer is known to many locals for its brunch. My experience was not a good one, with quality taking a back seat to quantity. It’s a bargain at $22.95 if all you want to do is stuff mediocre food in your face.

Black Hammock sits on the shore of Lake Jessup, which has the distinction of being home to the largest number of relocated “nuisance” gators. This is not a place where you want to take a swim. It’s also not a restaurant for you if you’re queasy about fried food. That’s the forte here. You can have frogs legs, various types of fish, or, in a delightful twist, gator tail. Chomp them before they chomp you.

The gimmick is cooking your own food at your table on a 700-degree rock. Bring the kids!