September is slow season in Florida, and that means deals, deals, deals. Here’s one of my favorites: Orlando’s Magical Dining Month, which lets you try one of 50 world-class Central Florida restaurants for a fixed price of either $19 or $29.
I know what you’re thinking. “World class” dining and Orlando shouldn’t be mentioned in the same sentence. Well, that may have been true a decade ago, but no more.
Orlando is a great town for foodies — and I’m not just saying that because I live here.
Earlier this week I had dinner at a participating restaurant, Doc’s, where chef Neil Connolly specializes in New England cuisine. Connolly used to work for the Kennedy family, and has authored the book, “In The Kennedy Kitchen: Recipes and Recollections of a Great American Family.”
Doc’s is located right across from the Orlando Regional Medical Center and is a favorite for members of the medical profession. In other words, half of the patrons at any given time are wearing scrubs. The martini bar specializes in themed drinks like “Code Blue” and “Flat Liner” (Malibu Pineapple and coconut rum with pineapple juice, just in case you were wondering).
But unless you’re afraid of doctors, it’s a great place for dinner. The seared jumbo lump crab cakes with a stone-ground mustard remoulade are remarkable — the best crab cakes I’ve had in Florida. Also worth checking out: the lobster stew, for which Connolly recently won a prestigious culinary award.
Try the grilled salmon, which is served with an aged cheddar polenta cake, a roasted corn and black bean relish and chipotle orange buerre blanc. The pan-seared breast of duck with a fig-ginger plum glaze also got high marks from our group.
The only thing better than Connolly’s Creme Brulee are the tales he’ll tell you about the Kennedy family. There’s a wall of photographs in the back of Doc’s with photos of the Kennedy clan, and a fascinating story that goes along with each one.
I’m headed back to Doc’s to try one of their burgers, which are said to be the best in town. I’ll report my findings here.
(Special thanks to my friends over at the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau for their hospitality and for the terrific money-saving tip.)
Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.
Elliott is consumer advocate 
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