Dining out doesn’t have to be boring. These regional restaurants and dinner shows provide guests with much more than just dinner away from home; they provide a memorable meal experience you won’t soon forget.
Written By Karin Fabry-Cushenbery
Hollerbach’s German Restaurant, Sanford
If sauerbraten, schnitzel and flammkuchen are your food love language and you’ve been craving authentic German faire, a visit to family-owned Hollerbach’s in downtown Sanford is in order. In operation for more than two decades, Hollerbach’s German Restaurant has grown by leaps and bounds, from a 60-seat dining room to seating for 600. If that doesn’t attest to the restaurant’s popularity, we don’t know what does! Just around the corner from the restaurant is Hollerbach’s German Market, where you’ll find a tasty assortment of authentic bakery items, beer and wine, meats and more. If you really want to immerse yourself in the culture, try on and get fitted for lederhosen or a dirndl at Hollerbach’s Outfitters or visit the Art Haus. Hollerbachs.com is where you’ll find complete menus and all the details on all things German in Sanford.
Titanic Dinner Gala, Orlando
It’s April 1912 and you’re invited to take a seat at the retirement dinner party of Captain Edward John Smith aboard the Titanic. Your boarding pass gets you access to a cocktail party and three-course meal with other first-class guests, plus a guided private tour of Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit, where you’ll see hundreds of items salvaged from the doomed ship, full-scale room creations and costumed actors. Your dinner plate will feature a dual entrée plated meal of chicken Versailles and a six-ounce sirloin with Bearnaise sauce. You’ll also enjoy salad, the soup of the day, twice-baked potatoes and green beans, plus a dessert fit for the Ship of Dreams.
Norwoods Restaurant and Wine Shop, New Smyrna Beach
What was once a general store, piggy bank factory and mosquito control center (no joke!) has undergone even more transitions through the decades to become Norwood’s, Eatery & Bar Treehouse, one of Florida’s most unique and talked about restaurants. Think Swiss Family Robinson meets upscale but casual culinary creations. At Norwood’s guests dine amongst the leaves, with the restaurant and bars being in and around giant tree branches. The 1946 Restaurant features appetizers like smoked fish dip and bacon-wrapped scallops. Entrees include hand-cut steaks, a maple hand chop, shrimp and scallop alfredo, seafood pot pie, handhelds and so much more, including vegetarian options. The adjoining Treehouse Bar opened in 2015 and the Roots Bar in 2019. The ambiance is rustic with rich wood tones and thick stacked stone. Guests can enjoy a huge selection of specialty cocktails, draft and craft beer selections, plus an extensive wine list.
Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World
Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, Orlando
disneysprings.com/dining/jock-lindseys-hangar-bar
A dining establishment Indiana Jones himself would find adventurous, Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar (yes, Indiana’s trusted pilot sidekick) is an aviation-themed restaurant that has unique and one-of-a-kind high-flying artifacts and mementos covering every nook and cranny. Think Disney-style details. As the backstory goes, Indy and Jock came across Central Florida in 1938 while following a treasure hunting lead. Loving the weather and beauty of the state, Jock settled down and eventually built an air traffic control tower, a runway and an airplane hangar. The spot became popular with the locals and soon the Hangar Bar was born! Located in Disney Springs, the ambiance is always bustling and festive. Jock Lindsay’s has an all-American themed menu, and the prices are just right.
Murder Mystery Dinner Train, Fort Myers
Do you fancy yourself a couch detective? Can you always tell how the murder mystery is going to end? Here’s your chance to take your super sleuth skills on the road… or the tracks as it may be. The Murder Mystery Dinner Train, part of the Seminole Gulf Railway, departs from (and returns to) Colonial Station in Fort Myers Wednesdays through Sundays. Passengers receive a clue sheet and playbill upon boarding and then watch as the events unfold. This classic whodunit will have guests laughing and second-guessing themselves. Tickets include a five-course meal, in addition to the show and train ride. The main course is your selection of prime rib, chicken or salmon. Coffee, tea and iced tea are included, but alcoholic and soft drinks are available for purchase on board. Shows change throughout the year, so you’ll want to go again and again.
Starlite Majesty Dining Yacht, Clearwater Beach
StarLite Cruises out of Clearwater offers a variety of boating excursions, but not many can top dining aboard an extravagant yacht. Whether you choose the daytime, evening or Sunday daytime with music excursion, it’s guaranteed to be a meal to remember. Diners will sail over the smooth inland waters while enjoying dinner, dancing and entertainment. The cruise offers a full restaurant-style menu, and food is prepared fresh and to order right on board. Some options include Herb and Bell Pepper Red Snapper, StarLite Chicken Spinachi, Stuffed Shrimp and more. Along the way, you’ll take in beautiful views of the Clewarwater skyline, along with the Gulf of Mexico.
Pirates Dinner Adventure, Orlando
Set sail for a swashbuckling dining experience like no other. Watch as the pirate Captain Sebastian the Black wages war against Benjamin Blue and his beautiful princess, Anita. An 18th Century Spanish galleon with 40-foot masts serves as center stage in the 300,000-gallon indoor lagoon. This high-energy production promises romance, music, high-flying stunts and plenty of action. Audience participation is one of the highlights of the show, so be prepared to take action when called upon! Dinner options include chicken, pork, pasta and vegetarian dishes. For an upcharge, guests can opt for grilled salmon, beef tenderloin, surf and turf and more. Shows take place daily except for Monday.