Is it all restaurant chains? No 'family run' diners?

[archibald]

When does it become a chain? 2, 4, 6, 8, 20? It's difficult to define. I took the OP to be wanting a family run place, where the owners run and cook at the restaurant. As soon as you add a second or third location, it's managers and chefs and everything changes.

[Burgmeister]

I did a Google search for "best independent restaurants in Kissimmee" and it returned this

yelp/search?find_des...issimmee%2C+FL

Might be somewhere to start although the list does inclue some that are definitely not independents?

There's a live report going on in the trip reports bit by theCMG and he has just visitied Dixie Bell's Cafe and thought it was very good.
dixiebellescafe/

[monkfish72]

Originally Posted by archibald

When does it become a chain? 2, 4, 6, 8, 20? It's difficult to define. I took the OP to be wanting a family run place, where the owners run and cook at the restaurant. As soon as you add a second or third location, it's managers and chefs and everything changes.

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Yes in the UK we obviously have Pizza Hut, Frankie and Benny's and the like but then a whole load of pubs/gastro pubs and smaller one site only restaurants that don't all look the same and don't all taste the same

I was always under the impression (thanks Hollywood) that the US was choc full of these places in every 'Main St' in the country - but looking on here and Tripadvisor it did not seem to be the case

Looked like the American Dream takes a successful local diner type place and quickly expands to becomes a chain of 50 diners!

From some of the replies it seems I have plenty to go at!

[wanye]

Originally Posted by monkfish72

I was always under the impression (thanks Hollywood) that the US was choc full of these places in every 'Main St' in the country - but looking on here and Tripadvisor it did not seem to be the case

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you still get all the chains (same as you get in every major city in the UK), just that if you venture ever so slightly further afield than i-drive and the 192, there's all sorts of great places to try

[addick1]

Woodsbys

[monkfish72]

Originally Posted by addick1

Woodsbys

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Yes I saw Woodsby's - looks great - one of the few that seemed to pop up in my searches - it's what got me thinking there has to be some that are nearer where I was staying

Squeezy ketchup bottles on the tables - now your talking!

[archibald]

You can find them, it just takes a bit of doing, and when you do get there they're usually very good. Ignore the location, some of the best diners we've found have been on industrial estates or in the middle of nowhere. Usually worth the drive though. I don't think that I've kept any of my Florida 'Trips' on Trip Advisor. Will have a look later though.

[DonnaD]

To answer your question the locals rarely go anywhere near International Drive! Where you are staying is very close to where I live. The only restaurant I would go to I Drive for is Cafe Tu Tu Tango or Oceanaire. Other than those and a few others we have pretty much the same restaurants locally on west 192. They are concentrated in the Rolling Oaks area and less than 10 minutes from Windsor Hills. The only true independent non-chains around here tend to be tiny Chinese or a few Indian places and mostly focus on take away.

The best place for independent restaurants is more north of downtown Orlando in the much older communities. This isn't much use for most tourists. There are some diner type places towards downtown Kissimme but that is a long way too and I am not sure they are worth the trip.

Restaurants here rely so much on tourists that even if independently owned they are usually franchises so that potential customers will instantly recognize what type of food and prices they have to offer. For example our local Culvers is owned by a young guy who runs it extremely well, has great staff and is very supportive of the local school. A true local business but if it didn't have the Culver's name and identity I believe he would have struggled to even get noticed or build up a reputation.

Do have a look at the restaurants near Market St in Celebration. They are independent or very small chains and rely a bit more on local residents than tourists. The bakery and pizza place are the only inexpensive ones, Market St Diner is moderate and Town Tavern, D'antonio and Columbia are worth a look. It is also one of the few places you can park and then walk around to choose one.

[kammx4]

Originally Posted by monkfish72

thank you - Manny's looks exactly what I was looking for - will check out some of the others

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You must try the haines city one. True USA experience.

[monkfish72]

Originally Posted by kammx4

You must try the haines city one. True USA experience.

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I'm all over it - I've been looking at the pictures and it looks insane - in the best possible way - 29 mins from Windsor Hills - that'll do