ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 Visit Orlando\u2019s biggest annual food event is back next month with special menus at new restaurants across Central Florida.<\/p>\n
A record-breaking 188 restaurants will participate in Magical Dining this year, 38 of them for the first time.<\/p>\n
From Aug. 14 to Sept. 30, participating restaurants will offer prix fixe, multicourse menus priced at $40 or $60. It gives diners the chance to check out some of the hottest, most popular and most decorated restaurants in the area, and for a more affordable price. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt started 21 years ago and it\u2019s really because our restaurants said in the fall season, that August-September was a much slower time and they needed the help,\u201d said Visit Orlando CEO Cassandra Matej. <\/p>\n
Among the participants this year are 16 Michelin Guide<\/a>-recognized eateries, including the Michelin-starred \u00d4mo by J\u00f4nt, a Japanese-French restaurant in Winter Park. It\u2019s the first Michelin-starred restaurant to participate.<\/p>\n Other Michelin Guide restaurants participating this year include:<\/p>\n 1921 Mount Dora\u00a0\u2013 Mount Dora ($60)\u00a0<\/p>\n AVA\u00a0MediterrAegean\u00a0\u2013 Winter Park ($60)\u00a0<\/p>\n BAC\u00c1N\u00a0\u2013 Lake Nona\u00a0($60)\u00a0<\/p>\n Four Flamingos: A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Lake Buena Vista\u00a0($60)\u00a0<\/p>\n Kabooki Sushi\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Downtown\u00a0Orlando\u00a0($60)\u00a0<\/p>\n Kaya\u00a0\u2013 Mills 50 District ($60)\u00a0<\/p>\n Maxine\u2019s on Shine\u00a0\u2013 Mills 50 District ($40)\u00a0<\/p>\n Nami\u00a0\u2013 Lake Nona ($60)\u00a0<\/p>\n Osteria Ester\u00a0\u2013 Thornton Park ($40)\u00a0<\/p>\n Otto\u2019s High Dive\u00a0\u2013 The Milk District ($40)\u00a0<\/p>\n Primo by Melissa Kelly\u00a0\u2013 ($60)\u00a0<\/p>\n Ravello\u00a0\u2013 Lake Buena Vista\u00a0($60)\u00a0<\/p>\n Sushi Saint\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Downtown Orlando ($40)\u00a0<\/p>\n The Pinery\u00a0\u2013 Ivanhoe Village ($40)\u00a0<\/p>\n The Ravenous Pig\u00a0\u2013 Winter Park\u00a0($40)\u00a0<\/p>\n Two restaurants at the Universal Helios Grand Hotel are also taking part this year: Bar Helios and Flora Taverna. The hotel abuts Epic Universe theme park, which means it will offer great views of the new nighttime show \u201cCelestial Goodnight.\u201d <\/a><\/p>\n [WATCH: Universal Celestial Goodnight marks new era in nighttime entertainment]<\/p>\n Also, $1 from every $40 meal and $2 from every $60 will be donated to the primary charity for Magical Dining this year: OCA, a group that offers programs and resources for people with autism and other developmental differences. <\/p>\n Visit Orlando will also donate $3,000 to six local nonprofits: Children\u2019s Safety Village, the Daily Bread, Nathaniel\u2019s Hope, NextStep Orlando, The Nurture Place, and Victim Service Center of Central Florida. <\/p>\n Since 2009, Magical Dining has raised nearly $3.3 million for local charities.<\/p>\n