ORLANDO, Fla. – Visit Orlando’s biggest annual food event is back next month with special menus at new restaurants across Central Florida.
A record-breaking 188 restaurants will participate in Magical Dining this year, 38 of them for the first time.
From Aug. 14 to Sept. 30, participating restaurants will offer prix fixe, multicourse menus priced at $40 or $60. It gives diners the chance to check out some of the hottest, most popular and most decorated restaurants in the area, and for a more affordable price.
“It started 21 years ago and it’s really because our restaurants said in the fall season, that August-September was a much slower time and they needed the help,” said Visit Orlando CEO Cassandra Matej.
Among the participants this year are 16 Michelin Guide-recognized eateries, including the Michelin-starred Ômo by Jônt, a Japanese-French restaurant in Winter Park. It’s the first Michelin-starred restaurant to participate.
Other Michelin Guide restaurants participating this year include:
- 1921 Mount Dora – Mount Dora ($60)
- AVA MediterrAegean – Winter Park ($60)
- BACÁN – Lake Nona ($60)
- Four Flamingos: A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen – Lake Buena Vista ($60)
- Kabooki Sushi – Downtown Orlando ($60)
- Kaya – Mills 50 District ($60)
- Maxine’s on Shine – Mills 50 District ($40)
- Nami – Lake Nona ($60)
- Osteria Ester – Thornton Park ($40)
- Otto’s High Dive – The Milk District ($40)
- Primo by Melissa Kelly – ($60)
- Ravello – Lake Buena Vista ($60)
- Sushi Saint – Downtown Orlando ($40)
- The Pinery – Ivanhoe Village ($40)
- The Ravenous Pig – Winter Park ($40)
Two restaurants at the Universal Helios Grand Hotel are also taking part this year: Bar Helios and Flora Taverna. The hotel abuts Epic Universe theme park, which means it will offer great views of the new nighttime show “Celestial Goodnight.”
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Also, $1 from every $40 meal and $2 from every $60 will be donated to the primary charity for Magical Dining this year: OCA, a group that offers programs and resources for people with autism and other developmental differences.
Visit Orlando will also donate $3,000 to six local nonprofits: Children’s Safety Village, the Daily Bread, Nathaniel’s Hope, NextStep Orlando, The Nurture Place, and Victim Service Center of Central Florida.
Since 2009, Magical Dining has raised nearly $3.3 million for local charities.
Menus are up for most of the restaurants now on the Magical Dining website, with more menus still to come.
[WATCH: Kaya tries Michelin Filipino food at Kaya]
The new restaurants joining Magical Dining this year include:
- Alma Argentina – Celebration ($40)
- Bar Helios at Universal Helios Grand Hotel – International Drive ($60)
- Conquistador Bar & Restaurant at Mission Resort + Club – Howey in the Hills ($40)
- Daniel Gabor’s – Ocoee ($40)
- Delmonico’s Italian Steakhouse – Lake Buena Vista ($40)
- Estefan Kitchen – Kissimmee ($40)
- Flora Taverna at Universal Helios Grand Hotel – International Drive ($40)
- Fuji Sushi – Altamonte Springs ($40)
- H&H Brazilian Steakhouse – Kissimmee ($60)
- Hamlin House – Downtown Orlando ($40)
- Hokkaido Sushi and Teppan – Winter Springs ($40)
- illume – International Drive ($60)
- Jala Indian Cuisine – Winter Park ($40)
- Jazz Tastings – Maitland ($40)
- Lizzy’s Live – Sand Lake ($40)
- Mamazzita Gastro Bar – Sand Lake ($40)
- Manzzo Cuisine – Windermere ($40)
- Mordisco Steakhouse – International Drive ($40)
- Mosonori – Sand Lake ($40)
- Mosonori – Winter Park ($40)
- ÔMO by Jônt – Winter Park ($60)
- Osteria Ester – Thornton Park ($40)
- Palma Italian Kitchen – Champions Gate ($40)
- Papparella Trattoria – Sand Lake ($40)
- Pisco Peruvian Gastrobar – Lake Mary ($40)
- Primo by Melissa Kelly – International Drive ($60)
- Salt & Ember – Mount Dora ($60)
- Simply Capri – Winter Garden ($40)
- Stone & Current – Kissimmee ($40)
- Sushi Saint – Winter Park ($40)
- Tamara Modern Indian Cuisine – International Drive ($40)
- Tamara Modern Indian Cuisine – Lake Mary ($40)
- The Grove Bar & Grill – Winter Park ($60)
- Trevi’s – Champions Gate ($40)
- Vesuvio – College Park ($40)
- Vines by H – Sand Lake ($40)
- Voodoo Bayou – Sand Lake ($40)
- Yao’s – Oviedo ($40)