Orlando’s Magical Dining Moment

If Orlando has a new, modern identity these days, it is as a foodie destination, one that really knows how to put food on a plate in a classy and stylish way (along with some contemporary cocktails and craft beers, of course). It is the trend that earned The City Beautiful its first Michelin Guide honours in 2022.

But it is also a trend that has been at least 20 years in the making, as evidenced by one of the more remarkable culinary developments in Central Florida that provides both a great incentive to try some of the city’s better restaurants, and offers a rewarding charity glow at the same time.

Yes, we’re talking about Orlando’s much-appreciated Magical Dining season, which is an annual highlight for many locals as well as visitors to the Sunshine State. This September celebration of fine dining celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, and this month saw the big payoff for the yearly splurge on an award-winning array of top restaurants.

Visit Orlando’s Year End Celebration

Ever since Magical Dining first entered the Orlando tourism lexicon in 2005, there has been an equally eager rush to reveal the total raised by the charity-focused committee behind the whole Magical movement. Because, for every meal consumed during the dining “season,” $1 was pledged to the non-profit organisation chosen by Visit Orlando to be the main beneficiary.

Now, $1 doesn’t seem like an awful lot, even for a dining programme that now offers well over 100 restaurants as part of its allure. But, as we have learned in recent years, a single dollar can actually go a long way when multiplied by the appetite of Orlando’s food-fueled patrons. A very long way.

Consider that in 2021 – a year still impacted by the pandemic, remember – the amount raised for that year’s charities was a whopping $289,291, which is a heck of a lot of $1 meals! In 2023, the figure was $269,272, and last year it reached a massive $352,218. Hard to imagine it going any higher, hey? Not a bit of it!

At this year’s Visit Orlando Year End Celebration (held for the first time at EPCOT’s World Millennium pavilion), the “big reveal” drew gasps from the audience as the ceremonial cheque was unveiled to read: a record $398,307.

Now that represents a LOT of washing up by anyone’s standards! This year’s chosen charity was the proactive REED Charitable Foundation, a non-profit that seeks to stem the country’s literacy problems with programmes that tackle child reading issues and helps to steer kids back onto a path to constructive learning. As the main beneficiaries, their highly valuable work will now receive a major boost.

Winners and More Winners!

Visit Orlando president and CEO Cassandra Matej summed up the Magical Dining payoff at the Year End Celebration in glowing terms. She said: “Magical Dining showcases the best of Orlando’s food scene and culinary talent, offering great deals for locals, driving business to restaurants and raising funds for charities in our community. This milestone 20th year not only delivered a record donation but also welcomed a record number of participating restaurants, including 24 newcomers and 15 Michelin Guide honorees, reflecting our community’s growing enthusiasm for Orlando’s ever-evolving dining scene. We’re grateful for every diner and restaurant partner whose participation is helping drive meaningful change throughout Central Florida.”

Additionally, Visit Orlando awarded $3,000 of the total to non-profits in each of Orange County’s six commission districts. The recipients were:

• Boys 2 Men Mentoring – Building confidence and life skills through mentoring and supporting academic success. • Early Learning Coalition of Orange County – Connecting families to quality early education and programmes that strengthen school readiness and literacy. • Finding the Lost Sheep – Offering tutoring and STEAM activities to boost learning and creativity for children. • Nuevo Sendero – Providing counselling and art-based programmes that foster emotional health and language development. • Samaritan Resource Center – Supporting adult literacy and ESL, creating stronger learning environments for children. • Therapy Wish – Funding speech and language therapies critical for early communication and literacy skills.

Restaurant honours, too

The restaurants also earned their own share of the plaudits. In addition to all the charitable handouts, the Year End Celebration saluted those restaurants that helped to raise the biggest sums for that whopping great presentation cheque, and we were delighted to see several of our favourites get a mention, along with a regular name at the top of the charts. To that end, Visit Orlando honoured all the top-performing restaurants for their outstanding contributions to the Magical Dining programme, as follows:

• Otto’s High Dive: Top performing new restaurant: $40 menu. • The Chapman: Top performing new restaurant: $60 menu.
• STK Orlando: Largest increase in meals served year over year. • Seasons 52 – Orlando: Top performing restaurant overall.

STK Orlando is the Disney Springs standard for great steaks in a lively, chic setting. We especially like their rooftop patio, which makes the ideal date night spot for couples looking for that something special location. Otto’s High Dive, in downtown Orlando, has rapidly become the watchword for Latin-tinged cuisine with a lively flair and memorable cocktails, while Seasons 52 is simply superb for that memorable night out. Situated in the heart of what the locals call Restaurant Row – the stretch of Sand Lake Road west of its junction with International Drive – Seasons 52 is both an elegant bar and stylish restaurant, with lakefront seating to enhance a menu that genuinely changes with the seasons.

PS: We have yet to sample The Chapman, the newest thing in charming Winter Park, with a celebration of Florida’s finest flavours, but it’s on our New Year’s list of new places to try!

What upmarket Orlando restaurants have you tried?