Usually I enjoy going out to casual restaurants where you don’t have to get dressed up or make a reservation, but once in a while it’s fun to try one of the fancy restaurants in Orlando and make a night of it. A lot of people think of Orlando and they think, oh, that’s just a place for theme parks and water parks, not really a culinary Mecca. Believe it or not, there are quite a few very nice romantic restaurants to choose from in Orlando Florida. Here are three outstanding ones to consider.

1. Venetian Room. Located at 8101 World Center Drive, you will really impress your date or significant other if you take them to this elegant restaurant. The head chef has trained in North Africa and Europe, and has also worked at such amazing restaurants as Emeril’s and Shula’s. The menu is European inspired, and the atmosphere is elegant and high-class to say the least. The food and wine you will find here will please even the most sophisticated palate. The service here is also wonderful.

2. Christini’s Ristorante on Dr. Phillips Blvd is another world-class dining experience you will not want to miss. Service is outstanding, cuisine is divine, and the ambiance is amazing. While you are dining you can enjoy the Italian sculptures and art. The menu is filled with classics and old-time specialties, and the wine list is impressive. If you are looking for fancy restaurants in Orlando where you can pop the question, this is one that should be high on your list.

3. Antonio’s Ristorante located at The Fountains Plaza. This restaurant overlooks the Florentine fountain and has a reputation for pampering its guests. With its beautiful floors made of wood, high vaulted ceilings, stone inlay, furnishings of wood and tile, along with a wide open kitchen, you’ll feel the Tuscan villa ambiance. The food is truly outstanding, everything from portobello al forno cooked in a wood-burning oven to North Atlantic salmon and stuffed veal chops. The wine list alone is something to gawk at with its selections numbering more than 250. Truly a 5-star restaurant.

Give one of these fancy restaurants in Orlando a try next time you feel like getting dressed up and enjoying an elegant meal in Central Florida.

Eating meals together should not just be seen as a daily routine, rather, it has significant importance between families and loved ones. In today’s modern and hectic time, people go to drive-through’s, have lunch delivered at the office, or eat while in the car. Having meals together at the dining table is a somewhat rare and special event altogether.

If you and your family and loved ones are catching up only on weekends at the dinner table, why not make it extra special by setting up a formal dinner table.

The items not to miss out on are:
Dinner plate with salad or soup bowl on it, knife, small spoon, soup spoon, bread plate with butter knife, coffee cup, water glass, wine glass, salad fork, dinner fork, and dessert fork.

Have a centerpiece that will reflect the mood that you want to have during dinner. Have a bouquet of flowers, candles, or a basket of fruit if you to have a formal and elegant dinner. Having a toy or any representative object (such as wrapped gifts) can make the dinner extra playful or look celebratory (especially if you will indeed have a celebration that night).

Dinner plates are placed approximately an inch away from the edge of the table. This is just the exact distance so people will not be stooping down or reaching out to their plates. Prints or patterns printed on your plate should be seen at the right side of the person.

The knife is placed on the right side of the plate with its blades inward. Ensure that the blade is just on the side, and not underneath the plate.

On the left of the dinner plate should be the fork, and when resting, fork prongs should face upwards. The tablespoon is placed next to the knife.

The napkin may simply be folded in half or you may use some fancy folding technique. As for placement, you can place them on top of the dinner plate, or beside the flatware (found on your left).

If extra fork or spoon is needed (for dessert, soups or salad), place the extra spoons next to the main spoons and the extra fork beside the main forks.

Always remember that silverware is used from the outside in – so the first ones that will be used should be at the farthest side of the dinner plate, while the last ones are the ones nearer the plate.

It is actually fun to set-up a dinner table especially when you know that your family will be enjoying it as well. No need to purchase new and expensive table pieces and china. All you need are the basics and a little creativity in making dinner and other meal times as special as your love for the family.