Three-course dinners for $20 to $30 at Orlando, Fla., restaurants

Florida’s theme-park capital is serving up great meal deals in September for its fourth annual Orlando Magical Dining Month, when dozens of restaurants will offer fixed-price, three-course dinners for $20 to $30. Though not exactly cheap (McDonald’s, anyone?), this promotion lets you live the high life for half the price at some places. And it benefits others too: $1 from each meal goes to the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando.

Deal: Restaurants offer limited-choice dinner menus consisting of an appetizer, entree and dessert for either $20 (”casual dining” places) or $30 (”upscale dining” places) per person. Beverage, tax and tip are extra.

Tested: I called Norman’s, at the tony Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, and was able to reserve the deal for Sept. 25. Its $30 special menu, which gave two choices for each course, would normally cost $54 (if you chose the free-range breast of chicken entree)  or $62 (with the pan-cooked fillet of Key West yellowtail).

Morton’s The Steakhouse could also take me Sept. 25, with a $30 menu that offered a 9-ounce filet mignon, 12-ounce broiled salmon filet or chicken Christopher as entrees. Priced separately, the meal would total $57.50 to $71.50, depending on your choices.

Tip: Although you may be able to get the deal on the spot, reservations are recommended; popular places get booked up. You can call the restaurant to book a table or, in many cases, book online.

When: Book now for dinners Sept. 1 to  30.

Contact: Orlando Magical Dining Month, (407) 363-5886.

— Jane Engle, assistant Los Angeles Times Travel editor

Photo: Norman’s restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, in Florida. Credit: Norman’s

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 5:55 am by Jane Engle and is filed under Deals, Epcot at Walt Disney World, Fall, Family & Kids, Florida, Gourmet, Luxury Travel, News, Tips & Advice, Outdoors & Adventure, Restaurants, Theme Parks, Universal Studios Florida, Weekend Getaways. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.