Four restaurants recognized as top performing restaurants, Summer House on the Lake, The Oceanaire Seafood Room, Chayote Barrio Kitchen and Season's 52 - Orlando.
Visit Orlando has announces a record-breaking donation of $352,218 to Orange County charities, raised through this year’s Visit Orlando Magical Dining, presented by Orlando Health.
This marks a 30% increase over 2023 and surpasses the program’s previous record set in 2020. Designed to celebrate Central Florida’s vibrant culinary scene and encourage locals to try new dining experiences, this year’s program featured $40 and $60 pre-fixe menus at 150 of the region’s top restaurants, including MICHELIN Guide honorees, with $1 and $2 from every meal going directly to local charities.
Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining has raised over $2.9 million for local charities since launching the charity fundraising component in 2009.
This year’s primary beneficiary, The Mustard Seed of Central Florida, helps families recover from hardship while promoting environmental sustainability. Through innovative programs, The Mustard Seed has repurposed over 160,000 mattresses, diverting nearly 4 million cubic feet of waste from landfills.
To expand the impact of this year’s donation, Visit Orlando awarded $3,000 to nonprofits in each of Orange County’s six commission districts. These organizations were selected for their creative approaches to fostering thriving, sustainable communities—the theme of this year’s charity efforts.
The recipients are:
Hope Along the Way – Supporting families through life’s challenges.
New Image Youth Center – Empowering youth with educational resources.
Next Step Foundation – Promoting recovery and wellness in the community.
United Against Poverty – Offering tools to improve lives and livelihoods.
WASH Foundation – Advocating for clean water and sustainable practices.
CDA “WE Care” – Building strong, compassionate communities.
“Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining not only shines a spotlight on the incredible culinary talent throughout our destination but also strengthens the community by supporting meaningful local causes,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando. “This year’s program was our largest to date, with 150 restaurants participating, including 25 new venues and nine MICHELIN Guide honorees—and the results are evident with the donation raised. We are deeply grateful to all diners and restaurant partners whose contributions are transforming lives and helping build a sustainable future in Central Florida.”
"We're truly thankful to our local community and visitors from beyond Orlando for supporting these nonprofits through their participation in Magical Dining," said Erick Hawkins, chief administrative officer, Orlando Health, and Visit Orlando board member. "With this record-breaking year, we’re especially excited to continue seeing how this extraordinary program’s impact enhances the health and wellness of our community."
With 150 participating restaurants, diners had more options than ever to experience Orlando’s culinary excellence.
Four restaurants were recognized for their standout contributions to the program:
Summer House on the Lake: Top performing new restaurant: $40 menu
Chayote Barrio Kitchen: Top performing new restaurant: $60 menu
The Oceanaire Seafood Room: Largest increase in meals served year over year
Seasons 52 – Orlando: Top performing restaurant overall
For more information about Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining, visit OrlandoMagicalDining.com.
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