Winter Park Wonderland

Chris Sherman | 4/5/2012

French Accent

Le Macaron's Creme Brulee macaron

Although some of the old guard classics are gone, Park Avenue now has the good fortune of having three sources for fine French pastries with the addition of Le Macaron, a small chain based in Sarasota. The macarons are perfect confections — light, crisp shells around delicate centers in a sensuous rainbow of flavors from Sicilian pistachio and Belgian chocolate. The other two French pastry havens, by the way, are Sweet Traditions and Croissant Gourmet.

Beer & Beyond

On U.S. 17-92, the refashioned Winter Park Village (once an indoor mall) has added two lively choices to its menu from growing chainlets. From Tampa comes TAPS, a downtown-chic purveyor of craft beer and microbrews with endless taps and infinite cooler, wines by the glass and contemporary light bites. Across the way is Truffles Grill from Hilton Head, S.C., and Atlanta, with a slick setting for updated comforts from meatloaf and chicken pot pie to homemade pimento cheese, with a long list of wines to match. Not far up the highway is SoNapa Grill, a wine bar that came from New Smyrna Beach. SoNapa dedicates its menu as well as its wine list to California. Closer to Park gastropubbers, Ravenous Pig will open Cask & Larder, a microbrewery, oyster bar and smoker in August.

Splash of Sushi

A mile north of Winter Park Village is the ultimate tribute to the area’s draw. RanGetsu, Orlando’s first premium Japanese restaurant, moved to a dramatic new building in Maitland last year after 25 years on International Drive. The restaurant, born more than 60 years ago in the Ginza of Tokyo, now has a nightclub with the full range of sushi, bento boxes, Wagyu beef and a robata grill sizzling with sea scallops, chorizo and Japanese mushrooms.

Sushi at RanGetsu, Orlando

Tags: Dining & Travel