50 Best American Restaurants near Windermere

“Customer service was great. Lynn was very attentive and nice plus my food was awesome. Definitely recommend“

“Great place, food is always good“

“The all-you-can-eat wings on Monday are really good if they will bring them out fast enough. I have been there on nights they were bringing them out quickly, and other times I’m waiting 10-20 minutes between rounds. Otherwise the staff is nice, the drinks are good, and overall it is a nice relaxed place to eat.“

“I must say this location left a lasting impression! We’ve been to other First Watch restaurants before, but this one truly stood out for its attention to detail, warm hospitality, and how well they handled every part of our visit.

One of the biggest challenges I usually face when dining out for breakfast or brunch is getting my eggs cooked “medium” a seemingly simple request that rarely comes out right. Too often, the yolk is completely cooked through or the whites are left too soft and runny, which can really throw off the meal. But here? They nailed it. The eggs were cooked to absolute perfection, with a nice runny center and fully cooked whites—just how I like them. It might seem like a small thing, but for me, it’s a huge deal and a rare win in breakfast dining. I genuinely appreciated the kitchen staff for taking the time to get it right.

We also tend to order quite a bit of food—yes, there were only two of us, but we love to sample a variety of dishes. Because of that, we usually ask for a booth and a large table so everything fits comfortably. I know some places can be a bit resistant to this when it’s just two people, but the staff here was extremely accommodating. They kindly asked us to wait for a booth to open, and even though we expected it might take a while, it was ready in less than five minutes. That little gesture made a big difference, and it set the tone for what turned out to be an absolutely pleasant dining experience.

Throughout the meal, the service continued to shine. Everyone we interacted with from the host to the server was friendly, attentive, and genuinely seemed to care about creating a great experience for us. It’s that kind of customer service that truly sets a place apart.

The food overall was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. We enjoyed every bite, and the relaxed, clean, and well-lit dining area made for a perfect brunch setting. The booth was comfy, the coffee flowed easily, and we never felt rushed.

This First Watch location just gets it right from the kitchen staff who respect how you want your food prepared, to the front-of-house team who go the extra mile to make you feel welcomed and accommodated. It’s rare to find a place that checks all the boxes, but this one does.

We’ll definitely be returning and recommending it to friends and family in the area. Huge kudos to the entire team at this First Watch, thank you for a delicious, stress-free, and feel-good brunch experience. You’ve earned loyal customers with this visit!“

“Took the drive from Lake Nona to Josie’s in Windermere. Excellent service. Excellent quality of pizza and wings . Outstanding draft beer ( Josie’s Ale ) . Beautiful , clean , neat and well designed for a romantic or comfortable dinner. Was blown away by the outstanding service. The two young men working this evening ( 6/28) went over and above . Great vibe , great attitude and exceeded expectations. Menu has always been outstanding at Metro West location , so we are very familiar with the brand.“

“Thanks Emily A for the amazing service. We had a fantastic meal!“

“Awesome place with super cool people and service! Always love coming here when we visit from Canada 🇨🇦“

“Best restaurant in town. I stayed in the Holiday Inn across the street. I ordered the Burger and the seasoning is crazyyy the food will blow your mind. Would definitely recommend this place“

“The food was delicious and there is a great selection of local beer. The service was top notch! Enjoy“

“The Hamlin location took amazing care of us today. We had to request a change of seating as we had some mobility issues within our party and they did it without any issue. I managed to spill my drink and the waitress was super relaxed with getting me a damp rag to clean it up. We ordered a drink not realizing it was smoked and they swapped it for us as we had a massive allergy issue in our party. I promise we aren’t usually so high maintenance but when I say they rolled with our oddly chaotic punches I deeply appreciated it. It’s the end of 2024 and I’m so proud of these folks for being on their ‘A’ game and accommodating us. Good food. Good service. Good time all around. I hope these rockstar servers hand an absolutely amazing 2025.“

“Kay was amazing!!! She took care of us from start to finish. She makes the place that much better! Visiting from Jax and would definitely come back!“

“Byleigh is one of the best bartenders great fast service with a smile and will make you laugh.“

“Rainforest Cafe is amazing, they have really great food and the staff is great as well. Our server Raychelle did a FANTASTIC JOB! she was very helpful! Service and atmosphere and food was awesome! The bathrooms we're clean as well, store was fun to look around at. I will definitely come back to this place! The food came out fast as well and was fresh! The only downside I would give about this place is, If people are coming just for the rainforest Cafe there should be separate parking so we don't need to pay $30 for parking, other than that it was a great time!“

“Experience here 10/10. Visited in January and celebrated my 60th and my granddaughter’s 10th. Sat next to space window and saw the space dog a few times. Services and food excellent. Cocktails amazing! Highly recommend!“

“Hangry Bison was outstanding for our team dinner. Service was excellent and food was great! We sincerely appreciate Jeff, Morgan, and Nikki who did a fantastic job for us on our event. We will be back!“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We had the most exceptional experience at BJ’s Brewhouse on I-Drive in Orlando this past Saturday for a surprise 50th birthday dinner, and we are still on cloud nine from how beautifully everything turned out! From the moment we began planning, the entire process was seamless, and the staff went above and beyond to make this celebration unforgettable. Every detail was handled with care and professionalism—from the helpful communication ahead of time to the outstanding service on the day of the event. A special shoutout to our amazing servers Mark, Leylani, and Edgar—you were absolutely phenomenal! Warm, attentive, and incredibly accommodating, you made our group feel truly celebrated. We also want to thank the management team who ensured everything ran smoothly and welcomed our family with kindness and joy. If you’re looking for a place to host a special event or just want great food and incredible service, BJ’s on I-Drive is the place to go. THANK YOU for helping us create such meaningful memories—we are beyond grateful!“

“The service so horrible. They automatically add 20%for the tip when our server was RUDE AND NON existent. I would NEVER return. No one was there. The food was nasty as well. First and last time here I was so excited to come but left SO disappointed“

“great food, very good and the sevice was excellent!“

“My wife and I have been here twice during our short stay in Orlando. The first time we came they were about to close, but they still welcomed us with a warmth greeting. We had a really good feeling about this place and turned out we were right! Great vibe, great staff, and great foods! What else can you ask for?

Special thanks to Riley, Chris, and James - you all made our stay in Orlando wonderful! Shout out to Rob for putting together such a solid team!“

“Just ending out two week stay, we eat breakfast here most mornings. Very reasonably priced and a great service and the coffee is the best on the drive. Highly recommended fantastic service from Mary and the rest of the Denny’s team.“

“I absolutely love this restaurant Everytime I visit the city I have too stop and grab my favorite and delicious food s.The freshness and quality says it all!!The service provided by the staff leaves you feeling so much love.Thank You Authentic Gyros for providing the best food and service!!“

“A unique and exciting eating experience.“

“Great place to take the fam any time of day. Everyone always happy here. Love it!“

“This place is an oasis! The owners were simply delightful, the food was amazing, and the ambience of the seating area was relaxing and didn’t feel like I was in an office building at all. I don’t even work here but I came here after reading the reviews and seeing a Reddit post. I will be back and will be shouting from the rooftops about how great this place is! ?️?️?️“

“🤤Taste :4.4/5
📍Environment: 4.4/5
🕴Service：3.8/5 ( self service )

Satu'li Canteen is such a unique dining spot! Located in Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom but its' also quiet pack for to get the seat . you may oder via the app to collect the food . The atmosphere is super interesting, and the food? Both creative and tasty!

💛 Combination Bowl with Smoked Chimichurri-braised Beef and Wood-grilled Chicken, and wow, it was flavorful and satisfying. The mix of textures and the smoky chimichurri flavor were just perfect.

💛The Ocean Moon Bowl was a fun surprise! The blue noodles were visually stunning, and the combo of tuna, watermelon radish, and pickled daikon gave it a refreshing, cool vibe.“

“A Flavorful Evening with Stellar Service We stopped in for apps and drinks this evening and had a fantastic experience. Our server, Nayeli, was outstanding—attentive, knowledgeable, and quick with spot-on recommendations. The clothesline bacon was a definite highlight. A savory-sweet indulgence, but what really surprised me was the rosemary garnish. Just a touch of it with each bite completely opened up the flavor—adding a subtle, aromatic layer that elevated the whole dish. It's an unexpected twist that truly works. Also, shoutout to the bar: the scotch Old Fashioned was one of the best I’ve had—easily in my top five. Balanced, smooth, and clearly made with intention. Highly recommend for anyone who appreciates bold flavors, thoughtful cocktails, and sharp, attentive service. We’ll absolutely be back.“

“Character dining and delicious food!“

“Excellent service. Delicious food“

“Food was delicious and something different than the usual chain restaurants“

“Just wanted to thank Sierra for her service when I come w my friends. She always makes everything easy, suggest different things, and never makes us feel like a burden with complicated orders. This place is very convenient in location and to watch the game and fights. Thank you again, Sierra!“

“Awesome food & customer service. Can’t wait to go back… Loved the hash-brown casserole!“

“Good food, staff friendly“

“My husband, Al, and I dined at the Chef's Table on Feb 19 2024 and celebrated my birthday. We ordered from the chef's tasting menu and could not have been more pleased. It was one of the best restaurant meals we have had in a very long time. You see I am a classically trained and award-winning chef in my own right so my standards are quite high and I am, more often than not, disappointed in restaurants, even fine dining establishments. Al started with the "Heartbreaker" Cocktail, which was excellent then he had the mushroom and chive crepe torte for an appetizer, exceptional and enough for 2 to share actually so we brought part of it back to the hotel and had it for lunch the next day. He then chose the Duck confit, also outstanding. For dessert he had the chocolate torte with the toasted marshmallow ice cream and caramel sauce, again, beyond delicious and the ice cream was the best thing i've had in my mouth in a long time. Al also did the wine pairing with his courses. I sampled each pairing and they were perfectly matched. I tried the Mr. Pink as an aperitif and loved every drop but the pink peppercorn's stole the show. Then I started with the foie gras. Every bite just brings you to your knees. This was the main reason we selected The Chef's Table to begin with because I had to have foie gras. I chose the filet for my entree and I must say it may have been one of the best filet's i've ever eaten. Cooked perfectly medium rare with a char that was to die for. I brought part of my filet back to the hotel to go with the torte for lunch the next day. Even warmed up it was delicious. For dessert I had the mission fig bread pudding, which had a fantastic texture and was the perfect level of sweetness. I paired the pecan pie martini with it and it was decadent and complimented the dessert perfectly. I did not opt for the wine pairing as a sip of two from Al's were enough for me. Our server, JJ, was attentive, funny, and generous with her time. The manager came by twice to chat with us. The atmosphere was romantic but not stuffy and we had a great view of the kitchen, which as a chef is simply theatre for me. Lastly, the prices were not stupid. This kind of tasting menu can easily run well over $100 pp without the wine pairing. I appreciate the fact that, while affordable, it was elegant and indulgent. We will never visit Orlando again without returning to The Chef's Table and I will recommend it to everyone I know. Thank you for such an amazing experience. Amanda & Al Fraioli“

“Thanks Emily A for the amazing service. We had a fantastic meal!“

“Awesome food great beers and awesome staff...meaning bar tender“

“Everything was perfect ! Servers are amazing !“

“Reasonably priced and located near the water with views of the floating electric parade. The only downside is that it is entirely outdoors so it can be uncomfortably hot or cold. It's not connected to the main lodge so if it's raining, you'll get wet walking here. My favorite was the campfire mousse. Beautiful and delicious.“

“I haven't been to Orlando in awhile but if God is willing the first meal I have when i get back will be here! This place is the real deal.“

“Highball & Harvest - Orlando - 4.5 Stars "If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst forth at once in the sky, that would be like the splendor." -- Gita Highball & Harvest is a restaurant inside the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The Ritz works very hard to deliver an amazing overall experience whether in lodging or in dining. While I did not stay at the hotel itself, the opulence that surrounds you upon entering the restaurant is sumptuous. You have to take a circuitous route to get to this eatery but once seated you have great views of lush flora and fauna that are carefully manicured. The attention to detail is astounding. The only downside to this spot is that the open air nature of this area caused sound to reverberate. Normally, this is not a big deal, but there was a gaggle of men hard-pitching what sounded like a Ponzi-like scheme to some young adults nearby. I tried to ignore them, but the leader of the pitch had a bellowing voice that carried throughout the place. He looked and sounded just like Marty Funkhouser from "Curb Your Enthusiasm." It was hard to avert my eyes because he apparently had obtained hair transplants years ago and did not have the foresight to consider future baldness. So he had perfect rows of wispy red hair on his head, a complete ring of baldness, and then more hair. Anyway, while this is a major digression from the point it was hilarious to watch and listen. I didn't need to stick my head in my phone for entertainment. Now, back to my culinary experience. Highball & Harvest has, like all modern American restaurants, a craft drink menu. A highball is another name for cocktail, which was big in usage at the turn of the last century. I chose to imbibe and picked the Industrialist from the menu. This consisted of Woodford Reserve double bourbon, Creme de' Menthe, and Fernet Branca. How they came up with this combination is beyond me but WOW! - it works. I ordered three sides instead of a full meal this time, choosing brussel sprouts with sherry-maple gastrique, Jimmy Red's goat cheese grits, and red cabbage deviled eggs. At first I was worried about the maple gastrique but my worry was for naught. The maple was barely noticeable but the sugars gave a potent punch on the finish. Now, as far as cheese grits go, I will eat them whenever they're on the menu. These Jimmy Red's had so much wonderful cheese I almost want to call it cheese with grits - truly amazing. Finally the deviled eggs: The chef who designed these eggs should get national recognition. The filling was smooth and creamy. The red cabbage finish topped with the pumpernickel crouton is the kind of crisp, clean, simple dish I so enjoy. I can't say enough good things about Highball & Harvest. Their dishes are simple, yet complex, and contain the right balance of flavors with recipes that are outside of the proverbial box. Please, I implore you to go experience Highball & Harvest, so sayeth the Big Bo“

“Marvelous happy hour! We actually had dinner there one night and returned for happy hour the next!“

“We were there tonight with a group of 25 and Hannah B knocked it out of the park. She was patient, kind, accommodating and an absolute sweetheart!! Our kids appreciate your work with Autism Society Greater Orlando. Thank you!! We appreciate you !“

“Keely was very pleasant and attentive to us even though it was obvious this location is understaffed.

Dietary restrictions: Keely was great at confirming my sandwich would not have cheese as I have a dairy allergy. It is great to know food restrictions are taken seriously.“

“We have enjoyed Hash House restaurants in other cities, but this one did not live up to the standard. The food was inconsistent. A few items were exceptional, some were okay, and a couple were downright disappointing. I had the Chilequiles, and they were subpar... a huge bowl of chips with minimal meat and a dry scrambled egg. It was dry. I ordered a side of sunny-side-up eggs to go over the top, but it wasn't enough to salvage the dish. Overall, it was a disappointment. The portions were large, but it was quantity over quality.“

“I was assisted as soon as I walked in and ordered the calamari and s’mores cheesecake. I originally saw on the website a key lime cheesecake but was informed they didn’t have it. I was pleasantly surprised about how delicious it all was especially for the price!“

“We had been seeing the $9,99 burger meal special advertised on TV and feeling in the mood, hubby and I decided to use an old Applebee's gift card. The server was friendly and willing to change the cheese to cheddar and bring barbecue sauce. It was more of a smashburger, but that was OK. The cheeseburger was messy and filling, especially with the generous portion of fries. Though the server forgot the hot sauce for hubby, the barbecue sauce satisfied him and added flavor to his fries.“

“I love Culver's cod fish sandwich and fries and ice tea. Several times l get their fried shrimp lunch menu. Many people l talk to did not know that you actually had Seafood. I alert them to that fact. Very well cooked and delicious. Also taking some friends over for them to try your delicious onion rings. Always great service and you may have a wait in drive through the whole meal is prepared, but it is well worth it, Everytime.“

“A perfect family dinner celebrating a birthday! Jay was the perfect server-- In fact, we commented on how attentive he was without being a hover-craft :-). Food, as we always have come to accept, was great and plates were cleaned. Thank you Seasons 52“

“Differentiated service, the guys were super polite and attentive, top snack!! Wonderful, it's really worth it, the milkshake was top too, we ordered a simple ? and an X-bacon, even better than some places in Brazil, the price was also worth it.
It started to rain and we sat in the covered area until the snack was ready, the boy took us the snack inside, we really enjoyed their attention.“

“We went today the best as always I had the fish,orka,onion rings, my husband had a hamber, onion rings, we tried the fryed mushrooms very good. Thank u again for the best food and service!!“

“I was always taught , if you can't say something nice, say nothing at all. Soooooooo................... I even ask to pay for bread.“