Orlando Five Star Restaurants

Even when dining in a city as famed for tourism as Orlando, one can never be sure that selecting a restaurant purely from the menu will be enough to ensure a good time. While the consumer industry continues to expand, actually knowing a quality restaurant from another can be exceedingly difficult; and the main city of Florida is no different. If visiting Orlando, one will want to ensure an enjoyable evening out can be had, but without being familiar with the city and its quirks, doing so is never easy.

A good guide to restaurant standards, however, is in operation. Europe operates a Michelin star system, where restaurants are granted one, two or three Michelin stars depending on the quality of the cuisine on offer. Two similar scales are used in the continental United States, though both prefer a more standardized five point rating scheme; Mobil uses a one to five star system, while the American Automobile Association (AAA) uses a five point diamond rating. These roughly equate to three, four and five star ratings being similar to one, two and three Michelin stars respectively.

The criteria for gaining high marks on these ranking scales is tough, and one can legitimately assume that by choosing an Orlando five star restaurant, quality is assured. To gain a rating that equates to the famous Michelin scale (which is, as above, three stars - Mobil - or Diamonds - AAA), a restaurant cannot be good; it has to be as close to perfection as it can. The awards are hard to come by, and while they focus primarily on the quality of food some can also take other factors such as ambiance, atmosphere and quality of service into consideration.

If you are seeking a quality dining experience in Orlando, then choosing a five star restaurant or one with a similarly high scale is a good way to start if unfamiliar with the city. Yet one should not set too much stall by ratings; seemingly, the scheme for granting them - even with five star restaurants - is more than a little mysterious. This was profiled by British chef Gordon Ramsay, during an episode of his popular television show 'Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares', where the chef made the point that no one bar the examiners really knows how exactly the restaurants are graded. Ramsay himself has restaurants which have been awarded three Michelin stars - the prestigious top award - so this is no sour grapes, but fact.

Balancing believing the hype about highly starred restaurants with an acknowledgement that a rating is nevertheless a standard of quality is key when it comes to selecting a restaurant. As with anywhere, Orlando is exactly the same. Among the restaurants within the city, there are those with three and four star ratings; a standard of quality which is akin to the very best in the world. A highly awarded restaurant here will offer a fine dining experience, with expert cuisine and an enjoyable atmosphere; though it is always worth checking the website of any restaurant itself before making a booking.