Discovering the Real Orlando

One of the best-kept secrets is an esoteric neighborhood called Thorton Park. If you're already at Disney or Universal Studios, go east on Interstate 4 and head towards downtown. Take the Robinson Street exit heading east (if you're confused about two intersecting streets going east, see the "Quick Tips/Suggestions" section below). Go past downtown, past Lake Eola and take a right on Summerlin. On the corner of Summerlin and East Washington, you will find several interesting eateries and a pleasant walk in a restored historic section of town.

Quick Tips:

Interstate 4 (or I-4) really goes northeast and southwest. So when you are going east, you're also heading north and vice-versa. That's why you might get directions, such as: "Go east on I-4, then take Colonial heading west." Just remember, east is really north and west is really south and you'll do just fine.

Best Way To Get Around:

The best way to get around Orlando is by car. If you don't have one, rent one. There are city buses, but most of them arrive on the half hour or even on the hour. And on weekends, they're even fewer and farther between!

During the winter, the weather is pleasant enough to walk around. But Orlando is spread out among many miles. There are pockets of interesting places here and there, but you must drive to each of them individually.

If you want to steer clear of the tourists, stay here. This is an elegant, historic inn, situated in one of the most beautiful towns in the Orlando area. In addition to their low daily rates, they also rent by the week, offering additional savings.

Just a note: Orlando lost its only hostel several years ago. It was replaced with a trendy hotel with a corporate bakery, overlooking Lake Eola. If you want to save money on accomodations and still be close to the theme parks, your best bet is a hotel or campground along Hwy 192 in Kissimmee.

This place is an Orlando landmark and you can tell as soon as you walk in. The friendly bantor between the wait staff and the many "regulars" makes you feel more like you're at a family reunion than a place with paying customers.

If there is a line at the restaurant, get your name on the list and check out the bar area. This is where you will see Linda herself almost every night, like a shepherd watching her flock. Changing the TV channels every once in a while or re-lighting the natural gas fire fountain -- the most popular spot in the place.

Once you're seated in the dining room with a menu, you will soon notice that this is a "meat and potatoes" place. No trendy appetizers or "foo-foo" drinks, here! Just steak -- great steak -- tossed salad for a starter and a homey Southern-style side, such as green beans simmered with real bacon. They also have some seafood and Italian dishes, but nobody seems to notice. They're here for the steak.

As you order your drink, you will receive a basket of sliced homemade bread, warm and ready for buttering. Nice and crusty on the outside, chewy on the inside.

Like everything else at Linda's, the tossed salad is also traditional (lettuce, tomatoes, onions with choice of basic dressings). However, it's refreshing to see that the greens are more than just iceburg lettuce; they combine several leaf lettuces, as well.

The Salute to the Steak

The steak is well honored at Linda's -- so much that they put it on its own separate plate. After taking that first bite, you see why no side deserves to be on the same dish as that steak. The outside is seared and the inside is super tender and juicy.

The "cantina" is not only Linda's, but she's a matriarch to the cooks, servers and wait staff, as well. In fact, most of her family helps her run the place, which might also explain the comfortable environment here.