Eating Out in Florida

Eating out in Florida is cheap compared to say most European countries and there is a wide choice of cuisine and types of restaurants.

Fast food restaurants are everywhere, but particularly for families, there are plenty of other options:

Few meals include vegetables; if you have vegetables, you might be surprised by what you get. Green beans in maple syrup are an acquired taste.

In many Floridian restaurants, the lunch and dinner menus are almost identical, but the lunch menu is much cheaper. To save money, eat your main meal at lunchtime (and avoid the midday sun) and have a snack for dinner.

Main courses (called entrées) come with salad. This is served as a course on its own (before the entrée), not as a side salad, and can be substantial, so be careful, as you can end up being full before your main course arrives!

The waiters are accommodating. If you want something that is not on the menu, it is worth asking if it might be available.

Tipping is common practice in the USA, and 15-20% of your bill is the expected amount. Look out for coupons in free visitor guides; most restaurants offer discounts and special offers.

One place where it is quite expensive to eat is in Florida’s theme parks, so why not read our advice on eating cheaply at Florida’s theme parks?

Remember, if you are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, then you can purchase a Disney Dining Plan which will give you a certain number of snacks, quick service and table service meals each day for an all inclusive price. Similar one day deals are now available from Universal Studios, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.