The staff at Discount Vacation Rentals Online is out on the town, determined to bring you the latest reviews of Orlando’s Top 100 Restaurants.  Our mission is to hit at least one of the top 100 restaurants in Orlando, Florida each week, bringing you our reviews on “where the locals eat“. We will of course provide you with our personal opinions on the service, atmosphere, dining options and drink selections.  A rating from 1 to 10 is also suggested so you can make your decision on where to be dining here in the Orlando area on your next Florida vacation.

Our first stop this week was Hot Olives, in Winter Park, noted as simple gourmet, contemporary-style cuisine. The Hot Olives website’s very own description of the restaurant hits the head on the nail, as this dining option provides a relaxing atmosphere with excellent food choices to please the most picky eater to those with a open pallet to unique flavors. The restaurant is located in Winter Park, Florida which is just a mere 5-8 minute drive from downtown Orlando. Finding a parking space can be tricky if you’re headed out around normal dinner hours 5pm-9pm. We had a late dinner, arriving sometime around 9:30pm and were able to locate an open parking spot just off of a side street from New England Avenue. Even if you have a bit of a walk down New England Avenue, the area is beautiful and the mom-n-pop shops and other diners lead a well-lit path back to the restaurant.

You’ll first notice the glimmering patio area, adorned with strung lighting, lush greenery, white linens on the tables and a candle light ambiance. It’s a very calm atmosphere with a positive vibe from the locals gathered around the tables enjoying their glass of wine and laughing amongst one another in conversation. The indoors brought a livelier crowd, gathered at the bar which stretches across the back wall of the dining room.  There are TV’s positioned above the bar and many guests at the time were involved in the last half of the Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game- YES, we won. Orlando ran with the win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, 103-90 as the final score. Congrats to our Eastern Conference Champs! Read the rest of this entry »