Welcome to Orlando. You are in the heart of international conventions, a place that is buzzing with the electric possibility of opportunity. A big trade show at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) is a marathon and a high-stakes chess game. You have a busy schedule, you know what you want to achieve, and time is of the essence. In this tornado, the mere question of where to eat becomes something different. It’s no longer about food, but about tactics, a far cry from the laid-back Orange County’s food scene in Southern California. What is your advantage in a meal?

It is not a mere list. It is your survival guide, a hand-picked playbook to help you navigate the complicated world of dining at the OCCC and make every meal a strategic win.

The Mission: Sealing a Deal Over Dinner

The trade show floor is noisy, hectic, and open. It is where the introductions are given and the interest is raised. But the actual business, the subtle negotiation, the handshake that makes a partnership—that is frequently done in a more civilized place. The most important thing is to select the right restaurant to carry out this important mission. It is a platform that you pre-determine to succeed, where the atmosphere, service, and food—whether it’s a prime short rib or fresh sushi—will be your silent partners in your presentation. The incorrect decision may create friction; the correct one will make the whole process feel smooth.

These are your best places to do this high-stakes mission:

The Capital Grille

• Location: Pointe Orlando
• Cuisine: Classic American Steakhouse
• Key Success Factor: Unwavering consistency and a classic, clubby atmosphere. The mahogany-paneled walls and hushed tones create an environment of seriousness and importance, perfect for high-stakes conversations.
• Why It Works: The service is discreet and impeccably professional. Ultimate confidentiality can be achieved in the use of private dining rooms. An impeccably cooked dry-aged steak here sends the message that you are not a cheapskate.

Eddie V’s Prime Seafood

• Location: Sand Lake Road’s “Restaurant Row”
• Cuisine: Prime Seafood & Steak
• Key Success Factor: Lively, classy energy, and usually accompanied by live jazz in the lounge. It creates a festive, positive atmosphere, which is perfect to seal a deal that is already going well.
• Why It Works: The beautiful interior and careful presentation are a sign of a modern, detail-oriented style, a small echo of your own business sense. It is where you take a client who values style as much as content, a world away from a simple patty melt diner.

Vito’s Chop House

• Location: International Drive
• Cuisine: Italian Chophouse
• Key Success Factor: An intimate, authentic, and owner-driven hospitality. It feels less like a corporate chain and more like a cherished local institution, which shows you have insider knowledge.
• Why It Works: The low lighting and comfortable booths create a confident, focused setting. Recommending a place like Vito’s suggests a partnership with you will be based on genuine connection and expertise, not just surface-level impressions.

The Mission: Boosting Team Morale After Hours

Your engine is your team. They are ten hours on their feet, have talked to hundreds of prospects, and are fueled by coffee and adrenaline. A good day in the show floor should be celebrated and a bad day should be reset. Taking your team out is not a cost, it is an investment in their energy and attention to the rest of the event. This mission is concerned with the search for a place where the atmosphere is not tense, the food is good—whether you have a craving for barbecue brisket or a vegan dish—and the team can really relax, perhaps even catching a great happy hour special.

These are some of the places you can go to debrief and celebrate after the show:

Yard House

• Location: ICON Park
• Cuisine: Eclectic American & Global Fare
• Defining Feature: A draft beer encyclopedia. This in itself is an excellent method for the team to unwind and experience various flavors, maybe even finding a craft beer that reminds them of one from America’s West Coast.
• Why It Works: The lively, busy environment is ideal to blow off some steam. With its huge menu, it can satisfy any dietary preference, so that no one in a large, diverse group—even those from foodie hubs like Los Angeles or Newport Beach, CA—will be left without something they adore. It is a tried and tested option.

Taverna Opa

• Location: Pointe Orlando
• Cuisine: Authentic Greek
• Defining Feature: Live entertainment, including belly dancers and traditional music, that transforms dinner into a party.You’ll want your phone ready for Instagram.
• Why It Works: It is a sensory experience that leaves one unable to stay stressed. The family-style sharing of mezze platters helps build team spirit and leave long-lasting memories off the trade show floor.

Bahama Breeze

• Location: International Drive
• Cuisine: Caribbean-inspired
• Defining Feature: A laid-back, tropical theme with an expansive patio and live music, offering a mini-vacation from the convention grind.
• Why It Works: The casual, vacation-like vibe is a powerful antidote to a high-pressure work environment. It allows your team to mentally check out for a few hours and return the next day refreshed and re-energized.

The Challenge: Conquering the Trade Show Floor

The first thing you encounter before you even consider dinner reservations is your first challenge, the trade show floor itself. The OCCC is a huge ocean of competition, a large field where thousands of brands compete. In such a setting, an average booth is synonymous with invisibility. An outstanding booth, however, is a lighthouse. It is your initial chapter of the story, the physical embodiment of your brand promise, and the beginning of all the valuable conversations you will ever have.

This is where the strategic partner is a must. This is where Aplus enters.

We are not a restaurant guide; we are your strategic partner in taking over the trade show floor. We are committed to a single mission since 2008: to design and construct exhibition stands that not only take up space but command it. We have more than 15 years of experience and are well established in Orlando, as well as other key hubs from Anaheim to Chicago, so we know what it takes to win here.

Consider us your in-built success partner. We manage the whole process ourselves, in our own US-based facilities, providing free 3D design to perfect on-site installation. Our end-to-end services, including custom exhibits, logistics, on-site supervision, and 24/7 support, are aimed at taking the enormous burden of booth management off your hands.

By handing this fundamental challenge to Aplus, you are free. You are relieved of the logistics burden and enabled to concentrate on what is important: interaction with your clients. You will feel free to do all the other missions in this guide: to give that winning dinner, to celebrate with your team, and to make every handshake a long-term partnership.

The Lifesaver: Quick & Smart Lunch Breaks

Time is the most valuable asset in the convention. A lunch break is hardly a luxury; it is a mad, 30-minute period to get some food in before the next onslaught of meetings. A wrong decision in this case can cost one energy and productivity throughout the day. This is your lifesaver strategy for an intelligent, time-saving lunch, whether you need a quick sausage roll or a bowl of noodles.

• The 15-Minute Pit Stop (Inside OCCC): Your closest bet is the food courts in the North/South and West Concourses of the OCCC. There will be the usual food such as pizza, sandwiches and salads. The benefit is simply convenience-no travel time is involved. The negative side is usually the long queues and generic nature. The pro-tip: find the shortest line, be ready with your order, and don’t expect a five-star server. This is all about gas, not taste.
• The 30-Minute Upgrade (Short Walk/Ride): To take a big leap in quality but not much in time commitment, there are a couple of nearby options that are great.While you won’t find the specific flavors of Garden Grove Blvd or downtown Santa Ana, you can still find quality. Pounders Burgers on the opposite side of the street serves quality made-to-order burgers that are a world apart to food court food. A little further, Café Tu Tu Tango has a lively atmosphere and a menu of small, shareable dishes (tapas), so it is possible to have a quick but interesting meal, almost like a weekday brunch. Make a call in advance to pick up and be as efficient as possible. This alternative takes a bit of planning, but it is a lot more rewarding in both taste and satisfaction.

The Secret Weapon: Orlando’s “Restaurant Row”

In every city there is a spot where the tourists and the people in the know are divided. In Orlando, it is Sand Lake Road, or the so-called “Restaurant Row.” It is a short drive away, but it is a different world, a foodie destination that locals and savvy business travelers love. Your secret weapon is knowing about this area, which rivals the culinary density of places like South Coast Plaza or Old Town Tustin. Bringing a client here is an indication that you are not just another tourist; you are a gourmet.

This is a dense strip of road with some of the finest restaurants in the city. You might not find that specific beef noodle soup from your favorite spot in Westminster, or the exact butter chicken you remember from Fountain Valley, but you will find excellence. It is an armory of restaurants.

• Seasons 52: This is an excellent option when the client is health conscious or when the business meal is light. Its special idea is a seasonal menu and the guarantee that no meal contains more than 595 calories. It has an elegant but casual ambiance, a lovely interior and a well-known piano bar. It shows a considerate, contemporary attitude to eating.
• Rocco Tacos and Tequila Bar: Rocco is the place to go to add some high energy and fun to a more casual business meeting. It is noisy, colorful and crowded. Their guacamole is made tableside, which is a performance in itself, and their tequila list is legendary. It is an unforgettable experience that shatters the pattern of the classic steakhouse dinner.
• Christini Ristorante Italiano: Christini’s is an Orlando institution for old-world, fine-dining glory. While not a casual bakery with morning pastries, it’s an establishment of wandering musicians and perfect, individual service. Taking a client to Christini’s is a big deal, and it is only done with your most important partnerships, a grand gesture that would be at home on El Camino Real in San Juan Capistrano.

The “Logistics” Play: Your OCCC Area Cheat Sheet

Success is born from excellent strategy and flawless execution. This final section is your “logistics playbook”—the essential data you need to navigate the area like a seasoned pro.

Transportation Tips

Dress Codes & Tipping

• Dress Code: At the Sealing a Deal locations (The Capital Grille, Eddie Vs, Christini), a Business Casual to Business Formal dress code is required. This normally implies collared shirts and slacks on men (a jacket is advisable), and a dress, skirt or fancy slacks on women. Smart Casual is acceptable in most other places.
• Tipping: Orlando, like most of the U.S., considers 18-20 percent of the pre-tax bill to be the standard of good service. In case of outstanding service, particularly in a business dinner where a lot is at stake, a tip of more than 20 percent will be a sign of appreciation that will not be forgotten. In large parties, make sure to check your bill, because a tip of 18 percent is usually added automatically.