Laid Back Fish on Fire - A Great Local Orlando Bar and Restaurant

Exterior of Fish on Fire bar and restaurant

Tired of the tourist scene or the same old chain restaurants you can find all over the United States? Head over to Fish on Fire and get a taste of what a real local Orlando bar and grill is.

Located just a half block East of our Orlando Airport area car rental office, Fish on Fire is a place that one of our service agents - Andres - stops by frequently after work. He loves the laid back, easy going vibe of the place. Pop in, and you're bound to easily strike up a conversation with a complete stranger.

If you're looking for a high class restaurant and gourmet food, this isn't the place. It's more of a bar that happens to serve really good food - nothing exotic, just good old home style meals. The service is fast, but not too fast, and the wait staff is super friendly.

Obviously there are plenty of seafood dishes and, if you've just finished a successful day of fishing on the nearby Conway chain of lakes, they'll even prepare anything you catch. There are burgers, wings, pulled pork, salads and plenty of tasty appetizers to choose from, too. For a true taste of Florida, give the "Allie's Gator" (gator nuggets) a try!

If you're a seafood lover, try the fish tacos, bacon wrapped shrimp, fried catfish or the grilled mahi-mahi sandwich. All of the burgers are great but the prize goes to their "Fatty Melt" - three burgers smothered in bacon, topped with a fried egg, onion straws and sliced cheddar cheese, all trapped within two grilled cheese sandwiches - ridiculous!!!

There are only three desserts to choose from but they are excellent. Try the Plant City Moon Pie - an explosion of chocolate and cherry goodness - or the key lime pie, which is real homemade key lime pie with a fabulous, flaky crust.

Again, the restaurant is sort of a "side dish" at Fish on Fire. People really go there for the environment and friendly people. During the day, a TouchTunes box pumps out classic rock and on many nights, live bands draw a huge crowd. It can get pretty loud when there are live bands, so eat outside if you want to have a conversation while you eat.

Is Fish on Fire going to be the type of place that you recommend solely for the food? Probably not. There is nothing that truly stands out (except, maybe, the Fatty Melt) but everything is good, the portions are large and the prices are reasonable. It's a real, neighborhood joint that the locals love, though, and a great escape from the plastic establishments in the tourist corridor.

Florida Travel Sleuth Quote of the Day: "Never be a food snob. Learn from everyone you meet - the fish guy at your market, the lady at the local diner, farmers, cheese makers. Ask questions, try everything and eat up!" - Rachael Ray