Must-see restaurants in Orlando

A friendly, cool and quiet restaurant stuck out on its own in a mall (handy if you're staying near SeaWorld), with gilded Thai decor and some tables with…

This little, white-walled cafe with a small patio sits across from Lake Ivanhoe (1 mile north of downtown in Ivanhoe). It's a popular local spot that…

Florida chain that offers surprisingly varied and tasty classics, from apple fritters and banana pancakes to chopped Cobb salad and chicken potpie. This…

Located in the Pointe Orlando on International Dr, this is straight out of Happy Days, with red vinyl seating, lots of chrome and flip-style jukeboxes on…

Bright little French bakery featuring rustic sandwiches, salads and omelets. Your best bet, though, is a pastry and coffee to go. Try the crusty homemade…

Downtown high-energy diner specializing in over-the-top burgers with sweet-potato fries and serious cocktails. There's a Broadway Brunch with show tunes,…

Florida chain with tasty and reasonably priced classic breakfast fare, including stuffed french toast, eggs Benedict and banana-nut pancakes, as well as…

Excellent deli sandwiches to go, but it's a straight up American booth diner experience. If you feel a cold coming on, head here for quintessential…

Quiet spot with airy Key West atmosphere. Try the particularly tasty crab cakes, with big chunks of lump crab and very little filler, and ask for a table…

Kids in particular love the novelty of a fondue dinner (cheese, beef, chicken, seafood and, of course, chocolate). Having said that, it's an elegant spot…

Old-style, neighborhood diner cafe, with Tiffany-styled chandeliers, a massive wooden bar and a mishmash of antiques. Come for the stick-to-your bones…

Housed in a fabulous retro-styled building, this former car dealership now wheels and deals exceptionally tasty Cubano specialties.

Good, high-end grocery-store-cum-supermarket. Also has take-out organic fare, a salad bar, brick-oven pizza and more.

Inside the giant Hyatt Regency, this is a retro-styled cafe serving basic but good diner food 24/7.

Excellent grocery store with organic and local produce.

Sure, it's a fast-food burger joint chain. Sure, you can find them scattered through Florida and beyond. But this Obama favorite, an easy drive from…