Recommendations request for [Florida - Orlando, Cape Canaveral, Miami, Key Largo] trip

The family will be going to Florida soon over winter break. We live near San Francisco, and will be traveling with a six year old and a 1.5 year old, so preferably staying light on the higher-end restaurants, though earlier this year, in New Orleans, we did stop by Shaya for a fantastic meal with kiddos in tow (thanks in part to reading through recommendations here). I guess I’m saying, we’re not going to a $200pp tasting menu, but if there is a higher-end place where kids might not be quite as much of an issue (a bit more casual setting or a patio), it might be a possibility. There are no food restrictions (the more unique, the better) and I do love a good brewery (what are the laws there with breweries and kids?). Wife likes a good bakery. We will have a car.

Our first stop is Orlando. It’ll be very park-heavy. Three days at Disney (tentatively two days Magic Kingdom, one day Animal Kingdom), one day at ???. Might be Legoland or something. We’re staying near this kitschy-looking place called Old Town. The only restaurant I have on lock is The Polite Pig. Any food strategies for Disney would be well appreciated. Downtown Orlando might not be in the cards after a tiring day chasing kids around, but if there is a place well worth the trek, I’m all ears.

Second stop is Cape Canaveral, with the Space Center as the focus. We’re staying on the peninsula, I think technically in the northern part of Cocoa Beach. I got nothin’ here. I was told that Playalinda Brewing Co is a “safe” bet, but it’s not particularly close to where we’re staying.

Following this is a road trip down to Miami, where we’ll probably need a rest stop along the way for lunch. Might stop at Delray Beach. I was told Civil Society Brewing has great hazies. Might stop by 3 Sons. Lunch doesn’t have to be at those locations. Bonus points: What areas should we hop off the interstate to drive along the coast/towns?

We’ll be in Miami a few days. We’ll spend some time in Miami Beach to check out the Art Deco scene and walk around 1111 Lincoln. In that area, I noticed Bourdain went to Yardbird. Worth a stop as the one lunch or dinner place in the area? Might make a trip out to the Wynwood area for Zak the Baker and/or J Wakefield Brewing.

I intend to eat a lot of Cuban food while there. Sanguich Little Havana is one I have bookmarked. Miami Sunrise at Los Pinarenos is another. May try to hit Mary’s Cafe based on some Hungry Onion reading. Have some others bookmarked, but would like to hear opinions and see if they line up with them. Anything else I need to try? What particular food items should I make sure don’t fly under my radar?

We’ll also have one day in Key Largo. Sol by the Sea seems to have a nice patio view for dinner. If you had one night here, would this be worthy, or is another place more deserving? Read somewhere on this board that Harriette’s has a great selection of muffins. Opinions on the best key lime pie? Good places for conch fritters?

What other food must we try that is difficult to find around San Francisco? I don’t think I’ve ever tried gator. Is that something I should look to try?

For those who made it through all that text, thanks so much!

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We’ve somehow avoided the Disney gauntlet so our 10-year-old has never asked about Disneyworld/land but Cape Canaveral is definitely on our radar. I’ve only been to Florida once, > 10 years ago when we basically got off a plane and were driven to my BIL/SIL’s house near West Palm Beach, and left only once to eat out so I have no data at all. I would be interested to hear about places around Cape Canaveral.

Good luck with your planning! I’ll be reading along.

I’ve been spending almost every spring break in Melbourne, just south of Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral since 2018.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find anything you couldn’t find in SF, TBH, but FL does seafood pretty well.

Grills is a decent enough place with many seafood options & a nice deck. The rock shrimp and mahi mahi Reuben are worth it.

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It’s been a more than a minute—2019, time flies–since I was last at Yardbird. Though the food was still tasty, Yardbird had grown into a chain by then. So not really the same experience as back in the day when Bourdain visited. Different vibe and the offerings seemed more standardized to me than in the pre-chain days, FWIW. I believe I went 3 times over the years on different visits to Miami.

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I went with my nephew just after some friends with small kids had been, and took their advice to have water and snacks delivered to where we were staying (we were on-site at Animal Kingdom — worth it for the zebras and giraffes roaming around as we ate breakfast on the balcony every day).

We did all our breakfasts in the room before heading out for the day, carried water and snacks, and ate lunch / dinner at the parks.

We also came back to the hotel for a rest after lunch and before evening stuff — critical with kids in my opinion, that way he didn’t get too cranky from the exertions (it’s a lot), and we could go back to enjoy the park lit up, and the fireworks at the end.

We had fries and pizza of course, but also some good grown-up dinners at the nicer park restaurants (one at Animal Kingdom whose name I can’t recall) — the kid was fed a snack before, and ate whatever he wanted (there’s always a kids menu) at the restaurant.

Don’t make food the focus, because it’s not. Carry everything that will smooth long and tiring days for the kids — you don’t want to be wandering or waiting in line at peak hunger or thirst.

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Just in time, hot off the press… My “Florida In-laws Survival Guide” :wink:
We’ve been going at least once a year to south Florida for quite some time now. Even lived there at some point.
For Cuban we are big fans of Old’s Havana. Its touristy and popular for a reason IMO. The scene, great food, and good value.

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Miami has great food at all price points, but I haven’t been since before the pandemic so my recs are stale.

I wasn’t impressed by Yardbird, but that may be because there was an explosion of good fried chicken after them.

I seek out cuban food when I’m there, plus cafés con leche and fresh sugarcane juice.

Miami also has instances of other interesting international food not easily found elsewhere (not sure where you live) - I recall some great Filipino and Asian food on my last trip.

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Here is my rundown of a recent trip to Miami:

All places are humble except for Maruba which is fine for kids because you can eat outside the restaurant, in a kind of shopping mall that is a stunning architectural gem in downtown Miami. Gorgeous at night.

I would put a high priority on my meal at European Corner for Venezuelan food. But don’t sleep on Rakija in Miami Beach for their pljeskavica. Warning: You may never have to eat again.

My belief is that Cuban food in Miami has long been South-Americanized and does not live up to the memories of my youth.

I did go to a location of El Palacios de los Jugos where you eat outside. It’s a good place for fresh tropical juices and I did very much enjoy an order of steamed yucca with garlic.

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Bear in mind that LegoLand is probably an all day adventure if you are staying up in Kissimmee. It’s only 35 miles on the map but you are likely to run in to traffic both ways on I-4 and 27. It’s not impossible but just need to be prepared for unscheduled delays. And definitely in the opposite direction of Cape Canaveral if you are heading that way the following day.

LegoLand also has a Peppa Pig Park which your 6yr old might enjoy. Not sure if tickets include entrance to both parks.

Not sure about the food at the park although I did see a report of a 2-foot long hot dog! I’m pretty sure you can leave/return the same day as long as you get your hands stamped and save your parking receipt.

Aside from the fast food which abounds in Winter Haven there are two casual lunch places that might be worth a look just a bit north of the park.

Adlers is basically burgers and fresh cut fries. You order at the walk up window then sit on picnic tables outside under a fabric “roof.” We go there often when the Florida weather allows for comfortable outdoor seating.

LoveBird Almost Famous Chicken started in Lakeland but recently opened a location in Winter Haven. Good fried (or grilled) chicken with tasty sides and good fries. Also have an interesting selection of canned beer.

Thanks for the recommendations, all; I’ve expanded my bookmarks for the trip!

One followup question, stemming from @Saregama 's post: What are some great local Floridian snacks and drinks to pack with us for Disney that we could find around Orlando?

And another request:
Where in Miami are some good places to catch a game (more specifically the Rose Bowl)? Highest preferences: At least a serviceable beer list with some local taps, kids are not frowned upon, and in a neighborhood that is nice to walk around in preferably with some funky shops/thrift stores around (for my wife to walk around in case she gets bored).

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Im going to post my reports from a recent florida trip in this thread because your locations are so relevant.

Starting with the [Cocoa]/[Port Canaveral] area, we stayed in Cocoa Village for 5 nights - we had 5 good restaurant meals in the area and were able to buy very good sourdough bread in Cocoa Beach at https://www.wakeandbakebreadcompany.com/ (we were in a airbnb and good bread was hard to find)

We had two good fish dinners at Grills Seafood Deck and Tiki Bar https://www.grillsseafood.com/menu/ n Port Canaveral, facing the canal where the cruise ships go out, the fish was very good, especially the mahi mahi - their fish comes in fresh off the boats, and they know how to marinate and grill their fish, and if you want your tuna seared (we had their simple and good fish tacos as well as grilled fish entrees) they know how to do it right. the fact we went back a second time says something!
I forgot to take pics till later - here is the corner of very very good grilled mahi mahi.

Their competitor is FishLips a few doors away https://www.fishlipswaterfront.com/- it also has good fish and slightly different preparations offerered (served in huge asian steamers, sort of awkward, but even though the grilled shrimp and scallops were fantastic we didnt like it as well and the servers had a schtick instead of being real.


the fishlips unsophisticated but ample and tasty tuna poke bowl

It says something that these places continue to stubbornly serve good locally caught fish when so many people go simply to look at thecruise ships, order hamburgers, and want fish sticks. Thankfully seems to be strong local clientele.

In Cocoa Village there are fewer choices but what there was was great - a very good wood fired texas style BBQ place and an excellent French restaurant if you want a really nice meal.

The BBQ place is Crydermans https://www.crydermansbarbecue.com/
and they were definitely serious about their stuff. We took our meat and sides home so they may have been slightly degraded but everything tasted good. The brisket of course (horrible unappetizing picture of the food below) then my husband wanted the pulled pork and turkey in our set of 3 meats and drink and sides. Id skip the turkey next time for sure, it was moist and tender but it was turkey after all.



The French place is Cafe Margaux https://margaux.com/
People definitely come here for a night out but there is the full range from full casual to fancy dress so dont be intimidated - there is also outdoor seating. If you cant get a table online, simply call, we got a table that way and as it turned out they must have been seriously overbooked online, because there were others free… :frowning_with_open_mouth: This was delicious food professionally presented with ample servings and the wine was fairly priced compared to NYC. We shared a scrumptious and huge duck rillette app which , a berkshire pork chop and a fish dish that offered 3 different types of fish each with a differently seasoned sauce. All flavorful, rich, well cooked and interesting.



Lastly there is a VERY GOOD french pastry shop in Cocoa Village if you are yearning for that sort of thing. We were impressed but did not buy. The hippie-ish Italian coffee/pizza shop nearby is not very good, however, Id avoid.

Will post about tthe rest of our trip in SW and South Florida below. I think you should enjoy this area!
I spent most of my time looking at birds, but with good weather there is a lot of exploring to do and if you hit it right you may get to see a rocket launch or a manatee!

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Glad you enjoyed Grills.

reading stupid reviews (e.g. Grills was just ok - ordered a burger, mad that they dont please customers by serving fish sticks!) always pisses me off! its not a fancy place but they have a passion for what they do and the server were kind and efficient - even when a big storm knocked out the electricity! The fish tacos - I had with both seared tuna and mahi mahi - were excellent including good cuban style black beans and fresh salsa. They all seem to be into coconut rice down there which was well made but I think I would have like plain rice better. Multi coconut seafood specialtes too. We avoided.

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Not a lot of fine dining around there — at least not that I’m aware of, but our hostess is such a fabulous cook we barely eat out when we are visiting. I’m happy with fresh, well-prepared, unfussy seafood, like grilled rock shrimp, or mahi mahi Reuben, etc.

And yeah, ordering a burger at a seafood place seems silly.

Cafe Margaux qualifies as fine dining, you might give it a try sometime. I couldnt get over how delicious the local mahi mahi was at Grills, etc. Had good grouper farther south but it was not as good.