Sampling some of the best restaurants in Orlando’s booming food scene translates into helping local children in need as part of Visit Orlando’s annual Visit Orlando Magical Dining program, held through the end of September 2019.
The program is being promoted at more than 120 Orlando restaurants through September 30 and offers a three-course, prix fixe dinner for $35 per person.
A dollar of each meal goes to local charity partners National Alliance on Mental Illness’ Ending the Silence, which provides mental health assistance and suicide prevention programming for teenagers; and Lighthouse Central Florida, which aids children experiencing vision loss.
Meetings Benefits of Orlando’s Magical Dining Program
Entering its 14th year, the program may be targeted to the general public, but groups meeting in Orlando can leverage both the three-course, prix fixe dinner bargains and the added benefit of giving to charity for open evenings or networking and special events.
“There’s a real strong variety of restaurants that are within the convention district and restaurant row,” said Denise Spiegel, spokesperson for Visit Orlando.
“You can specifically search within the convention district, so if you’re searching for something during this time it’s really easy to find something nearby,” she added. “You can book for groups, and many have private dining spaces.”
Spiegel said last year’s Magical Dining effort raised more than $250,000.
Meeting planners can use a filter on the Magical Dining website to narrow down the list of participating restaurants in the area they are meeting in, including Orlando’s convention district. The website also displays the three-course menu offering at each restaurant.
Visit Orlando Magical Dining Program Logo, Credit: Visit Orlando
One popular convention district option is Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, which offers a private dining space and Magical Dining meal options that include:
- First course: Classic Caesar, seasonal salad or lobster bisque
- Main course: 8-oz. filet mignon, Del’s Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, North Atlantic salmon or filet medallion duo
- Dessert: Cheesecake or Belgian chocolate mousse
Chef Preparing Steak Lobster Dish, Credit: Visit Orlando
Other convention district restaurants participating in the program include:
- A Land Remembered (steak and seafood)
- Benihana (Japanese and sushi)
- Cafe Tu Tu Tango (American)
- Cala Bella Shingle Creek (Italian)
- Ciao Italia Ristorante (Italian)
- Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar (Latin, South American, Caribbean)
- Everglades (steak and seafood)
- Fiorenzo Italian Steakhouse - Hyatt Regency Orlando (Italian)
- Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse
- Itta Bena (Southern)
- Jack’s Place (steak and seafood)
One group meeting in Orlando during the Magical Dining period should especially take note: The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association will hold its 2019 Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show at the Orange County Convention Center September 15 and 16.
“Our convention calendar is pretty robust for the month of September,” Spiegel said, “so as attendees are in town attending a variety of shows, it’s definitely a benefit for them.”
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