Foodies looking for a great hotel to stay in Orlando will love exploring Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. The 1,500 room flagship property of the largest privately owned hotel company in Florida offers plenty of delicious reasons to visit. I share my top 9+ reasons below.
On September 9th, 2019 the resort celebrated its 13th anniversary along with the 80th birthday of visionary founder Harris Rosen. Raise a glass and say cheers to Mr. Rosen and get ready to plan your next foodie getaway!
Here’s 9 reasons why every foodie should stay at Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. Whether it’s for a family vacation, a romantic staycation or a company meeting or event, you can bet you’ll be enjoying tasty meals during your visit. I hope you’re inspired to #MakeSomedayHappen one delicious bite, sip and trip at a time!
1. Crab Cakes, Scallops & Bisque, oh my!
A Land Remembered, the AAA Four Diamond steakhouse located inside the Rosen Shingle Creek Golf Course Clubhouse not only serves up some of the best Harris Ranch All Natural Prime Black Angus steaks, but the seafood options always have me coming back for more.
Try the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake. All crab, no filler!
The Scallops with Lemon Beurre Blanc sauce are sweet and plump goodness.
The Lobster Bisque is the best I’ve had anywhere in the world. Believe me, I’ve looked. Just the right touch of sherry and cream to make you want to lick the bowl clean.
And how could I forget to mention the Lobster Mac & Cheese? It deserves a category all its own.
Don’t miss Visit Orlando Magical Dining 3-course menu promotion in the month of September. It’s a great deal at only $35pp. ALR also offers special menus for Valentine’s and other holidays you’ll want to keep in mind
2. Guacamole, Tacos and Margaritas!
Who can resist a giant bowl of fresh Guacamole made table-side, topped with Jumbo Lump Crab? Pair it with an equally enormous hand-crafted Margarita and you’ll be smiling all night. That’s how they roll at Mi Casa Tequila Taqueria.
It’s always Taco Tuesday at this casual Mexican eatery located across from the Headwaters Lobby Lounge. Fresh flavors, high quality ingredients and great service is on the menu in this fun hideaway.
3. Give Me One Burger, One Bourbon and One Beer!
It sounds like a Country Music song but the atmosphere and the menu at Tobias Burgers & Brews will have you singing. This is where foodies hungry for Americana gather for a good time. It’s located next to Mi Casa Tequila Taqueria, across from Headwaters Lounge.
Try the loaded chips topped with pale ale cheese fondue and thick cut bacon. Pair with a flight of local beers.
The Bourbon Burger, a ½ pound black angus beef patty with Kentucky bourbon glaze and bourbon bacon is made to please the hearty appetite.
Want to try local beers? This is a good stop. The Alligator Drool is made exclusively for Rosen Hotels.
4. Dining Around The World without a passport!
The perfect solution for foodies who want a variety of flavors is to walk around the lobby of the beautiful property. I’ve already mentioned Mexican and All American options. If you’re in the mood for sushi, grab a seat at Banrai Sushi Bar, which is also located next to Headwaters Lounge.
Looking for Italian comfort food? Walk a few steps to Cala Bella™, a AAA Four Diamond fine-dining bistro. For casual New York Deli style, you’ll find piled high sandwiches and Rosen’s Perfect Pizza, soups, salads and baked treats, at 18 Monroe Street Market. It’s open 24 hours! Even more proof, foodies will not go hungry at Rosen Shingle Creek.
Ice cream is a must in Florida. The Creek Creamery serves up a variety of flavors. You can also sastisfy your Starbucks fix at Smoooth Java Coffee Bar without leaving the hotel.
5. Festive Holiday Brunches!
If you want to experience one of the most extensive brunch buffets in Orlando, make reservations at Café Osceola for one of their highly acclaimed holiday events on Easter, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Indulge in unlimited champagne and mimosas. A plethora of stations with chef made to order pastas, carved meats and desserts, sushi, raw bar and more.
Cafe Osceola also serves breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets daily with everything from omelettes made to order to Filet Mignon. There’s something for everyone. You can read more about the holiday brunches here.
6. No Rubber Chicken Here!
Ever attend a catered event at a hotel only to wish you had eaten beforehand or leaving you wanting to head for a drive-thru afterwards? Food served in banquets in most hotels leaves much to be desired. But not at Rosen Shingle Creek and their sister hotels. The quality of their catered events is equally as top notch as their four diamond restaurants. I’ve worked on both sides of this business, both as a catering manager and as a meeting and event planner, whether you’re the one doing the planning, or you’re attending a meeting or event, rest assured you and your guests will have your foodie fancy tickled.
7. There’s even more deliciousness at all Rosen Hotels and Resorts!
Rosen Shingle Creek Resort is the flagship, however, all 8 Rosen properties have something special to offer at a variety of price points, with plenty of amenities and delicious dining options to enjoy. All properties are located in Orlando, within miles of each other, making it easy to hop from one to the next.
At Rosen Centre Hotel, next to the Orlando Orange County Convention Center, you’ll find Everglades, a steak and seafood fine dining gem serving my favorite Buffalo Filet and Sea Bass. They also host epic wine dinners. Harry’s Bistro, a fun and modern poolside eatery serves Latin and Caribbean dishes. Their Beer Pairing Events are quite popular. Banshoo Sushi Bar & 98Forty Tapas and Tequila serve up Sushi and Mexican inspired tapas plus 40 tequilas to tempt your taste buds.
At Rosen Plaza, Jack’s Place offers a fine dining classic atmosphere steakhouse surrounded by an impressive collection of celebrity caricatures drawn by Mr. Rosen’s father when he worked at the Waldorf Astoria in New York.
8. Location, Location, Location!
Rosen Shingle Creek is located on Universal Blvd in the heart of Orlando’s tourism corridor. And while there’s no reason to leave the hotel, it’s just minutes away from International Drive and the plethora of restaurants and attractions nearby. Experience a fun night out at Icon 360, ride the observation wheel and check out the restaurants and entertainment venues like Tapa Toro and Tin Roof. Catch a movie at Pointe Orlando and grab a fun bite at Taverna Opa, where Greek specialties come with a belly dancing show and high octane music. Take advantage of complimentary attractions shuttles to Universal. Universal City Walk and Disney Springs are a 15-20 minute drive away with their seamlessly endless restaurant options. You are in the middle of it all, or miles away, tucked in Nature’s paradise. Your choice.
9. Plenty to do between meals!
As surprising as it may seem, us foodies do need to fill the time between meals. Rosen Shingle Creek offers plenty of options. You can be as active as you want to be, or do nothing but relax and unwind. No judgment. The Spa at Shingle Creek serves up a variety of body treatments including foodie inspired seasonal services such as raspberry and chocolate body scrubs, as well as Citrus and Cedar and Everglades mud masks for a local Florida feel. Play a round of golf at the 18 hole, par 72 championship course. Heated pools, tennis courts, basketball, sand volleyball, fishing, fitness center and nature walks await for the active foodies who want to work off those calories.
A few other things to keep in mind when planning your stay at Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. Check out the website for seasonal deals and specials. None of the Rosen properties charge a resort fee and Wi-Fi is complimentary! Plus, staying at the Club Lounge level will get you complimentary continental breakfast and evening reception with hors d’oeuvres and desserts. That’s a great upgrade.
One More Reason to Love Rosen Shingle Creek Resort: The People!
Last but not least, there’s actually one more very important reason locals and visitors from around the world love to stay at any of the Rosen Hotels & Resorts: that reason is the people behind the brand.
Starting with President and COO Harris Rosen, who is known just as much for his successful hotels as he is for his visionary philanthropic endeavors and the positive impact he’s made on the local Orlando community. For decades he has contributed tens of millions of dollars to create and support educational and youth-benefiting programs and scholarships in under-served Orlando communities like Tangelo Park and Parramore. He opens up all hotels with special rates for those in need to evacuate before hurricanes, as he did recently with Hurricane Dorian. He also rallies the community to gather donations to help with disaster relief. His list of contributions and accomplishments is a long one. And he shows no signs of stopping.
Photo provided by Rosen Hotels & Resorts.
Rosen’s team of dedicated professionals follows suit caring for guests as well as each other. Since we are talking about foodie reasons to visit, I give a special shout out to the talented culinary team at Rosen Shingle Creek. Led by Executive Chef Jorge Oliveira, they offer exceptional attention to detail and service. They may not get as much press as Mr. Rosen, but they deserve all the accolades.
In full disclosure, I worked as an executive for Rosen Hotels for 12 years and have been hosted as media as well. As a former insider, I can tell you that you can believe the hype. It’s a great company and Mr. Rosen is as fascinating as he is inspiring. You will often see him greeting guests as he walks around each of the hotels.
Next time you’re looking for a great hotel to stay, don’t hesitate to look up Rosen Hotels and Resorts. With over 6,694 rooms in the collection, it may be a large company but it is a true local gem of Orlando.
I hope these reasons inspire you to plan your next foodie getaway. If they do, please let me know in the comments and share your experiences with me on Facebook and Instagram at @goepicurista and tag #MakeSomedayHappen
Cheers!
Go Epicurista
Disclosure: I have been an invited guest of Rosen Hotels and Resorts in the past. However, I was under no obligation to write this post and as always, all opinions are my own. I only share with you products and experiences I love to inspire you to get together with family and friends, celebrate life and go #MakeSomedayHappen one delicious bite, sip and trip at a time! You can read more about my guidelines in my disclosure policy. Cheers!
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