Mama Nem's Soul Food is SO much better than some of the places that are more famous.
http://www.mamanemssoulfood.com/

I'd also say to drive along S OBT on a Friday night and check out all the food trucks.

I've never been to the Old School Coffee Shop in Christmas, but any place that's in a school bus and feeds cinnamon rolls to gators is good TV.
http://oldschoolcoffeestop.us/aboutus...

Anyone seen Tom and Jerry batter for sale in or around Orlando? I've had a bowl and cup set for years and feel like finally making a round of alcoholic eggnogs.

You need to hit the Vietnamese markets along E. Colonial.

Jazzy Dog Cafe (1311 Sligh Blvd. - Orlando) serves its signature hot dog on a pretzel roll. Not sure where they get them, but I bet they'd tell you.

I've only been once (too far from home), but Mama Nem's chicken is great as are the multitude of side dishes. Just know that as the night gets later, some sides run out.

I just had a gyro in the food court at Oviedo Marketplace Mall that was decent -- and around $5 if I remember correctly. I think the name of the place is Mediterranean Gourmet.

Are you out at the theme parks or somewhere closer to Orlando proper?

Here's my write-up.

http://orlando.metromix.com/restauran...

The new place has a full kitchen and full liquor, which are plusses, but it's also dropped the high-end wines. Where the by-the-glass wines used to to go up to $20 and $25, they now top out at $12.

It's been a few years since I was there, but have you been to the Ritter's in Port Orange? As for me, I spent a couple years in Louisville and really miss the Black Raspberry Chip from Graeter's.

Does anyone have any word as to whether Chalo's is still open? I ate there a couple months back and enjoyed it, but now, I've been by twice (on Saturdays) and the lights are off.

I believe that Texas de Brazil on I-Drive has started doing lunch on weekdays. The website doesn't say that, but a friend mentioned it was so. Yeah, a chain but a decent churrascaria.

How late is late? I think Hemispheres at the MCO Hyatt is open until 10, but I've never eaten there. In Downtown Orlando, Kres is open until midnight and Hue should be open that late on Thursdays as well.

The Chinese place you're thinking of has got to be Tasty Wok, 1246 E Colonial Dr. If you didn't get the duck on your first visit, here's your second chance.

Do you want to find a sit-down place or is "tray service" OK? Does it matter what park this will be at? My first two thoughts would be --

Roam Epcot Food and Wine Festival. It'll keep the kids moving and you can sample a lot of foods in kid-sized portions. Of course, I don't know when you're coming and the festival wraps on November 11.

Try Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It's a beautiful resort and the Boma buffet has enough Asian and Indian dishes that you feel like you're trying something new while there's still chicken nuggets and mac and cheese if the kids wimp out on you. The buffet also has cooking stations, including one just for kids. Plus, you can walk the resort before the meal and see the animals that live there.

I hope I helped.

I've been to a place called European Deli on South Orange in Orlando that seemed to focus on Czech and Polish groceries. There's also a Russian place on 17-92 in Casselberry or Maitland. It's in a strip mall that has a Cheers, but that's all I remember. I'm sure someone else will remember the name. I get the same mustard there that I have since seen Andrew Zimmern eating on "Bizarre Foods." It'll burn the hair out of your nostrils.

For full sit-down, I like the San Angel Inn at the Mexico pavillion (though I've only eaten lunch there.) For seafood, I'd recommend The Coral Reef inside The Seas with Nemo and Friends. The restaurant looks into the giant aquarium.

If you don't mind leaving the park for a bit, you can also take a water taxi to Disney's Boardwalk. You should also consider that the Food and Wine Festival is on, so you might just want to nosh and wander without sitting down for a formal meal.

There are obviously dozens of Vietnamese spots along Colonial, but some of the biggies woould be Viet Nam Town, Vinh's, Little Saigon, and Viet Garden.

My apologies to whomever asked me about semi-vegetarian restaurants in the area. I listed about half-a-dozen places, but a moderator must not have liked something, because the whole thread is now gone -- even the non-related topic that started the thread.

I'm afraid to even speculate what got it pulled, but I imagine that it was either when I mentioned I write restaurant reviews for a certain website or when I disclosed that I do freelance PR for a certain themepark. (I hope that's vague enough to keep THIS from getting pulled too.)

Anyway, here's the list of places I suggested --

California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort
Artist Point at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Cedar's (Lebanese place on Sand Lake Road)
Dandelion Communitea Cafe (very "granola," all-veg place near downtown)
Sweet Tomatoes (it's a chain, but soups and salads to keep both veg and non-veg happy.)

Roger Moore at the Sentinel just wrote a little about local movie food here. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entert...

A Red Star Tavern will be opening in Orlando Fashion Square (Mall) and I've seen want ads for a Kissimmee branch of BJ's Brewhouse. If BJ's has two in the area, maybe they'll start brewing here instead of trucking it in from elsewhere.