20 essential Winter Park restaurants every Orlandoan needs to try
Of all of Orlando's pockets of culinary goodness, Winter Park sure brings some special eats to the table. From mouthwatering hot fried chicken to vegan creations to Instagram-worthy Thai teas, Winter Park has a little something for everyone and every palate.
Here are some of Winter Park's most essential eateries every local should have tried (and stuffed themselves at) by now.
Don't see your favorite spot listed here? Let us know and we'll make sure to give it some love.
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Photo courtesy Swine & Sons
1280 N. Orange Ave, Winter Park
Swine & Sons' long-awaited move to Winter Park last year brought the restaurants' beloved menu of Southern-inflected sandwiches, salads and breakfast bites along with it.
Photo via Prato/Facebook
124 N. Park Ave., Winter Park
Orlando Weekly's own "best Italian restaurant" three years in a row, Prato scores huge with Orlandoans for its authentic Italian dishes. You’ll battle crowds to get a seat at this loud Park Avenue “it spot,” but once inside, the rustic Italian creations will justify the body-checking. As you can read in our 2020 Prato
review, "You'd be hard-pressed to find better meatballs in the city, seriously."
Photo via Umi/Facebook
525 S Park Ave., Winter Park
Umi’s sushi and small plates impress in both presentation and palatability. Purists will appreciate their stellar sashimi and robata offerings, while contemporary diners will get a kick out of their takes on “Japanese fusion.” They offer a selection of sakes, soju cocktails and Japanese beers, too.
Photo by Rob Bartlett
221 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park
The Hen & Hog is styled in all things farmhouse, right down to a hen-red color palette. Chef A.J. Haines' classical training and experience shows in dishes that not only look good but comprise all those homey Southern feels, like the chicken and waffle sandwich and fried pickles.
Photo via Bulla Gastrobar
110 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park
Winter Park's spot for tapas and cocktails, Bulla Gastrobar's flavors are crafted by chef Diego Solano, who trained and cooked in some of Spain's most prestigious eateries. Inspired by the ingredients and culture of the country, Solano has created an authentic vision of gastronomy at the Winter Park eatery.
Photo via Winter Park Fish Co.
761 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park
A previous winner of Orlando Weekly's Best Seafood Restaurant, Winter Park Fish Co. prides itself on its seafood dishes featuring fresh fish and unique chef-crafted dishes.
Photo via Hotto Potto
3090 Aloma Ave., Winter Park
Fresh ingredients, genial service and sheer variety help make this Winter Park hot pot joint an option for these looking for a change in their restaurant routine. Meats aren't too out of the ordinary, though live blue crab, lobster, shrimp and bass keep it interesting. Soup base and spice levels can be adjusted according to taste, and a wide array of house-made sauces seal the deal. Open late Fridays and Saturdays.
Photo by Rob Bartlett
290 S. Park Ave., Winter Park
The trendy Mediterranean hotspot in the heart of Park Avenue may be saturated in SoBe swank, but its menu packs the sort of substance that only makes people-watching at Ava all the more enjoyable.
Photo via Hunger Street Tacos/Facebook
2103 W Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park
Hunger Street Tacos offers Orlandoans fresh, authentic and creative Mexican-style street food at its flagship Winter Park location.
Photo via Briarpatch/Facebook
252 N. Park Ave., Winter Park
One of Winter Park's most iconic and long-standing breakfast joints serves up contemporary American cuisine and brunch daily. With breakfast goodies like blueberry stuffed pancakes and raspberry-and-brie stuffed brioche french toast, it’s not hard to find a reason to wait in line here.
