OK, it’s Magical Dining season in Orlando right now, and that means a chance to sample a lot of restaurants we might not normally visit thanks to the special 3-course prix-fixe menu that is the fundamental part of this annual dining extravaganza.
This year’s Magical Dining program (Aug 14-Sept 30) features a record-breaking 180+ restaurants all offering their own MD menus, which make for a genuine cut-price treat when it comes to dining out during this 48-day period. In the course of the last 20 years, it has become a genuine local highlight, and a great reason to sample restaurants that might not normally feature in our budget. The restaurants come in two categories, those at a $40 fixed menu and a $60 group that offers a more rarefied experience.
Every meal served during this Visit Orlando-inspired event, presented by Orlando Health, also benefits a variety of deserving local nonprofits. Since 2009, this initiative has raised nearly $3.3 million for various charities, and this year sees OCA (Opportunity, Community, Ability) as the main beneficiary. It empowers individuals with autism and other developmental differences — from as early as 18 months through adulthood — while also supporting their families, many of whom face financial barriers to care and long-term services. OCA partners with organizations like Special Olympics, United States Tennis Association, A Gift for Teaching, Orlando Family Stage and Central Florida Vocal Arts. Proceeds from Magical Dining ($1 from every $40 meal and $2 from every $60 meal) will go toward therapy scholarships, helping increase access to critical services and support, as well as programs that guide adults with special needs in defining life after high school with purpose, independence, and meaningful connection.
So, we have every reason to feel good about all our dining out for this extensive six-week period!
Now, our latest venture into Magical Dining territory is well worth recording, as it provided the perfect excuse to head out and sample a place we have been meaning to try for years, but have never quite got round to (mainly because it is quite a drive from the main Orlando tourist area). But, as we soon discovered, the Mission Resort + Club is well worth seeking out, notably for a special occasion. We didn’t have special reason to seek it out, but we decided it was just well past time to visit!
Now, it should be pointed out that you do need to make a significant effort to get there. It is nearly 40 miles and a 45-minute drive from Walt Disney World, into neighboring Lake County, where you’ll find the pretty town of Howey-in-the-Hills (and yes, there ARE some hills in Florida!). The Mission Resort is just to the north of this lovely lakeside location, set in more than 500 acres of private, landscaped grounds that include two championship-quality golf courses and a blissful Spa.
As the photos immediately suggest, this is a resort beautifully styled in classic Mission style, redolent of its Spanish Mediterranean roots and the Colonial style popular in southern California in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its graceful colonnades, tiled roofs and elegant architecture are a treat for the eyes, while the hotel part of the resort includes 176 rooms and two restaurants (plus an extra one, Grove House, in the golf clubhouse). It is also officially one of the Historic Hotels of America.
In the midst of this low-key grandeur lies the Conquistador Bar + Restaurant, which is brand new on the Magical Dining list for 2026. This was originally La Margarita Restaurant and El Conquistador, now consolidated into one with a super-chic bar and separate dining section, overlooking one of the pleasant courtyards around the property. There is a lovely outdoor terrace and then the main building, on the second floor, with the bar area immediately evident from the terrace.
Step inside, and there is a light, airy dining room, incorporating an unusual mix of cowhides, warm wood cabinetry and vibrant greenery. The bar boasts hand-crafted intricate tilework accents and surrounding architectural details, with a doubled back bar displaying high-end tequilas. Overall, the open, flowing floor plan includes pleasant, intimate nooks and a contemporary feel that still pays homage to the resort’s heritage.
You’ll notice we’re providing a LOT of specific detail about the restaurant as it’s definitely the kind of place you’ll want to sit and admire the decor and the ambiance. We were one of only four tables dining on this particular evening, hence it was pretty quiet and subdued, but we can easily imagine this being quite a lively room at peak periods as there are only about 15 tables in all, plus the terrace and the separate bar area. It has all the charm of communal dining for large families and groups, plus a more intimate arrangement for couples.
When it comes to the food, at least for Magical Dining, their menu covers a wide variety of bases, so it shouldn’t be hard to find something you like. The appetizer choice includes Caesar Salad (baby romaine, parmigiano and brioche croutons), Chorizo & Asparagus Bisque (aged manchego with a creamy finish), the Hunter & Gatherer (a vegetarian salad of spiraled beets, goat cheese, crispy pancetta, pickled onion and balsamic vinaigrette) and French Onion Soup. We chose the Hunter & Gatherer and the Bisque, albeit without the goat cheese for the veggie dish, as it’s not one of Susan’s favorite tastes. There was also a mini baguette for the table, which went extremely well with the soup. The salad was virtually an entree-sized portion, which immediately showed that we weren’t being short-changed on the prix fixe menu!
For our main courses, Simon had the Piquillo Salmon (piquillo pepper cream and sauteed spinach on a parmesan risotto) while Susan opted for Chicken Rigatoni (seared chicken in a shitake garlic cream with dry sherry and herb oil), while we could also have ordered the vegetarian Paella Jardin (saffron rice, peas, garbanzo beans, asparagus, pepper medley, capers and olives) or the Heritage Pork Chop (in a sweet potato puree with apple-bacon jam and brussels sprouts). Susan really liked the garlic cream, as well as the spiced rub on the chicken and generous size of the portion, while the salmon really hit the jackpot for Simon with its charred top layer, succulent fish underneath and the wonderfully tasty pepper cream.
For both of us, there was just slightly too much for one sitting, but we will enjoy the other half of the rigatoni for lunch at some stage this week! There was a short wait between the appetizers and entrees, but that suited the surroundings and the occasion. Finally, the dessert selection was possibly the hardest of them all – but the most memorable. From the choice of Peach Compote (orange sponge, melba syrup and vanilla ice cream), Seasonal Gelato & Sorbet (a rotating Chef’s selection), Creme Brulee (Madagascar vanilla bean with a caramelized sugar crust) and Seasonal Bread Pudding, we selected the latter duo and were richly rewarded by some of the best flavors of the evening.
Susan went so far as to say it was the best creme brulee she has ever had (and we’ve enjoyed some pretty fancy versions over the years), while the classic bread pudding hit all the high notes for Simon, who is a genuine aficionado of this traditional dish. He’d rate it alongside that at Raglan Road at Disney Springs, which has been his gold standard for bread pudding ever since the authentic Irish bar/restaurant opened in 2005. We each enjoyed a coffee with our desserts, while we also had a mocktail and glass of chardonnay to start with, bringing our total bill to $113. However, in full disclosure, we did have Visit Orlando vouchers for the meal, hence our outlay ultimately was $33, plus tip.
Dinner took a fraction under a leisurely two hours, which suited us perfectly, and we had the benefit of seeing the courtyard below us light up for the evening to complete a totally refined dining experience. All in all, we would definitely go back at some stage in future, perhaps for a wedding anniversary or birthday, and we’d be highly tempted to book a room for the night as well, to make it a really special occasion.
That’s the full review for now, but expect more restaurant reports from us soon! And, for YOUR Magical Dining experience, be sure to look up https://www.magicaldining.com/.
Veness Travel Media 