Since there are no "official" macrobiotic restaurants in Orlando, indeed there are very few in the US, a person seeking a healthy balanced meal outside the home has to pick and choose from a restaurants standard menu. Fortunately, even though there is only one vegetarian/vegan restaurant in Orlando, there are a few Orlando restaurants that can serve a vegetarian meal that is a little more balanced than a cold salad and pasta. Many Orlando restaurants that claim to subscribe to healthy eating but few actually deliver according to macrobiotic healing definitions.
The quality and diversity of ingredients as well as the preparation skills and practices are chief among the checklist of things to consider when looking for a restaurant approaching macrobiotic quality. A menu rich in organic whole food cooking with a balanced mix of whole grains, fresh locally produced vegetables, and supporting portions of natural protein and mineral sources all without synthetically produced or artificial ingredients would be the general objective. Traditional menus based on old-world cuisine or cultural staples inherently have acquired this healthy balance of ingredients through their lengthy natural selection process. Authentic meals are often unavailable and the diner must pick and choose from the menu. Furthermore the economic pressures of restaurant competition and the consumer value equation challenges restaurants to compromise meal quality in pursuit of lower costs. Examples of typical areas of cost cutting to be aware of vs. their healthier alternatives include uses of:
A quick indicator of a restaurant's devotion to healthy meals is to look at their vegetarian selection. Although macrobiotic meals aren't isolated to vegetarian cuisine, vegetarian practices within a restaurant are representative of the preparation skills and attention to the requirements of healthy eating. Any restaurant that supports veganism, vegetarianism, kosher and diabetic diets are quite possibly approaching macrobiotic quality. A kitchen that interprets vegetarianism as a cold salad and a main dish of nightshade vegetables (tomatoes, eggplant, peppers or potato) are disservicing vegetarianism and are not macrobiotic.
The following is a list of local restaurants and cafe's that approach the quality required of macrobiotics. You may need to call ahead, give the chef explicit instructions (such as less oil and no sugar) or maybe even just drop in and order off the menu.
THE GARDEN CAFÉ - Vegetarian & Vegan
810 W. Colonial Drive [
Map it! ]
(407) 999-9799
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 12 p.m.-10 p.m.; closed
Monday
The only fully vegetarian restaurant in Orlando serves brown rice and also has
vegan options. Almost anything on the menu could approach macrobiotic quality
by asking for sauces without sugar and requesting less oil.
Price: $8-$15
THE CALIFORNIA GRILL - Vegetarian selections
Disney's Contemporary Resort, 15th Floor
4600 N. World Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL [ Map
it! ]
(407) 824-1576
Hours: 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m. daily
Price: $40 for custom prepared menu otherwise $21-$75
When you make reservations ask for a macrobiotic meal and a chef will call you
back to discuss your menu. Johnny is the chef that usually handles the vegetarian
menus. Although he never made a macrobiotic meal before, he did a great job
with ours.
MOMO’S JAPANESE RESTAURANT – Vegetarian selections
110 S. Semoran Blvd
Winter Park [
Map it! ]
(407) 677-5800
Hours: ?
Price: ?
Site of our 2002 holiday dinner party. Call ahead of time if you want brown
rice as they’ll make it custom for you.
SUSHI HATSU JAPANESE RESTAURANT - ?
24 E Washington Street
Orlando, FL 32801
407-422-1551
SEASONS 52
7700 Sand Lake Road @ Dr. Phillips
Orlando, FL
407-354-5212
Price: $30-40
Dardens experimental entry into lo-cal and Healthy dining. Features wine
bar and weekly menus
Nancy says the former chef of California Grill is now here
The Goblin Market
331 N. Donnelly Street
Mt. Dora
(352)735-0059
Hours: 5-10PM
Let them know when you make the reservation that you want a vegan
meal and if you tell them more about what you want specifically to fit more macro
I would imagine they would do it. So far, I've only asked for vegan. All 3 or
4 times I've been there the meal was exceptional and beautifully presented.
Ichiban - ?
19 S Orange Ave
Orlando, FL 32801 [
Map it! ]
Phone: (407) 423-2688
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-10pm; Sat 5:30pm-11pm
Price: $21- $30
RASOI - Vegetarian
852 Lancaster Road, Bombay Plaza
(407) 859-0111
Hours: Wednesday-Monday 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Closed Tuesday
Price: $5-15
TASTE OF INDIA - Vegetarian & Vegan
9251 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Suite 10, B&B Plaza
(407) 855-4622
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. daily; Closed Monday
Price: $5-$15
NEW PUNJAB INDIAN RESTAURANT – Vegetarian Selections?
7451 International Dr
Orlando, FL32819-8248
Phone: (407) 352-7887
Hours: Mon 5:30pm-11pm; Tue-Sun 11:30am-11pm
Price: $21 to $30
P.F. CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO –Vegetarian selections and options
Winter Park Village
436 North Orlando Avenue
Winter Park, FL 32789 [
Map it! ]
Phone: (407) 622-0188
Millenia Mall
Orlando, FL 32839
Phone: (407) 345-2888
Hours: Fri-Sat 11am-12am; Sun-Thu 11am-11pm
+brown rice and most all dishes can substitute tofu & bean curd, no msg
-ask for less oil and sauces without sugar
Price: $6.95-$12.95
4-5-9 CHINESE RESTARAUNT – Vegetarian Selections
657 N Primrose Dr
Orlando, FL 32803 [
Map it! ]
Phone: (407) 896-0709
Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-10pm; Sat 12pm-10pm; Sun 4pm-9pm
+brown rice, no msg
-ask for less oil, more vegetables and sauces without sugar
Price: $6.95-$17.95
CHINA GARDEN RESTARAUNT – Vegetarian Selections
118 S Semoran Blvd, Winter Park, FL
Phone (407) 671-2120
a traditional authentic Cantonese menu.
+brown rice
-ask for less oil & starch, more vegetables and sauces without sugar
Price:$5-15
WINNIE'S ORIENTAL GARDEN – Vegetarian
Selections
1346 Orange Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789-4912
Phone: (407) 629-2111
+brown rice
Il PESCATORE ??
651 N Primrose Dr
Orlando, FL 32803-5016 [
Map it! ]
Phone: (407) 896-6763
Hours: Tue-Thu 11am-9:30pm; Fri 11am-10pm; Sat 12pm-10pm; Sun 4pm-8:30pm
Price: $10-20
ROYAL THAI – Limited vegetarian selections and options
1202 N. Semoran Blvd.
(407) 275-0776
Hours: Sunday 12 p.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 12 p.m.-10 p.m.Monday-Thursday
11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.for lunch; Monday-Thursday 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m. for
dinner.
Price: $8-15
CALIFORNIA CAFÉ BAR & GRILL – Vegetarian selections
The Florida Mall (8001 S OrangeBlossom Tr)
Orlando, FL32809-7663
Phone: (407) 816-5555
Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-10:30pm; Fri-Sat 11am-11:30pm; Sun 11am- 9:30pm
Price: $7.50-$24.95
CHAPTERS BREAD AND BOOKS CAFÉ – Vegetarian selections
717 W Smith St
(407) 256-1546
FALAFAL CAFÉ – Vegetarian selections
12140 Collegiate Way #175
(407) 382-6600
Hours: (Mon-Fri) 11 am-9 pm
Price: $8 - $12
FLORIDA HOSPITAL CAFETERIA - Vegetarian
601 E. Rollins Ave., 1st floor [
Map it! ]
(407) 303-6611
Hours: Monday-Friday 6:30 a.m.-2:30 a.m.; Saturday-Sunday 7 a.m.-2 a.m.
They have one healthy meal option consisting of brown rice, vegetables and a
bean.
Price: $5-10 (around $4.50/lb)
POWER HOUSE CAFÉ – Vegetarian selections, juices
111 E Lyman Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789-4311 [
Map it! ]
Phone: (407) 645-3616
Hours: Mon-Fri 10:30am- 7pm; Sat 10am- 5pm
Order the falafal or tabuoli pita with hummas or tahini. If you order a smoothie,
ask for no ice
Price: $2.75-$6.00
CHAMBERLIN'S MARKET & CAFÉ – Vegetarian selections, Deli
7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd., The Market Place
(407) 352-2130
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
4960 E. Colonial Drive, Herndon Village Shoppes
(no cafe at this location) [
Map it! ]
(407) 894-8452
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
430 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park Village
Winter Park, FL [
Map it! ]
(407) 647-6661
Hours: Monday-Saturday 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
The cafe has different hours than the store. Much organic produce.
Price: $5-$15
SWEET TOMATOES – Vegetarian selections
4678 E. Colonial Drive [
Map it! ]
(407) 896-8770
6877 S. Kirkman Road [
Map it! ]
(407) 363-1616
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
A home of the dreaded cold salad and pasta, stay away from the desserts and
you could almost end up with a balanced meal, check out their menu
online before going.
Price: $5-15
RINCON CRIOLLO CAFÉ – Vegetarian selections and options
331 N. Orange Ave. [
Map it! ]
(407) 872-1128
Hours: Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; Closed Saturday-Sunday
Price: $5-15
NATURE'S TABLE CAFÉ – Vegetarian selections + ?
450 S. Orange Ave., Suite 290 [
Map it! ]
(407) 835-1926
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday closed
3201 E. Colonial Drive, Fashion Square Mall [
Map it! ]
(407) 896-7686
Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
This chain of mall food restaurants started in Altamonte Springs and it's worth
a try if you're in the mall all day. Price: $5-15
WHOLE FOOD MARKET – Vegetarian selections, deli
1989 Aloma Ave.
Winter Park, FL 32792-3222 [
Map it! ]
Phone: (407) 673-8788
cozy up to the deli to create your own meal while shopping for your organic
vegetables + only place to get fresh real sourdough bread
Price: $5-15
