Winner, winner, magical dinner: Options among Orlando Sentinel Foodie Award Winners

With more than 100 participating restaurants, this year’s crop of Magical Dining venues features a lot of variety: Michelin-selected venues, a hearty crop of newcomers and more than a few Critic’s Picks from the Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards. In fact, some check all three boxes.

Unique to the roster is Sushi Pop, a long-standing favorite of mine, which isn’t just a newcomer to the program in its two distinct locations of Oviedo and Winter Park — it’s offering up two completely different menus, as well.

“The menus are different as they reflect the menus that are current in each restaurant as I allow each chef to be creative in the Sushi Pop ‘universe,'” explains Sushi Pop chef/owner Chau Trinh.

Sushi Pop has been my top pick for sushi in the OS Foodie Awards for two years running, and for reasons that extend beyond its superb food. Date-night ambience, phenomenal cocktails (not to mention a killer to-go program that kept them high on my list throughout the pandemic) and in-the-know servers make it an excellent choice for your Magical Dining exploration. Two times over, in fact.

And, something they have in common with fellow Magical Dining participant and sushi salon extraordinaire Kabooki Sushi, dessert is as important as the mains. Case in point, the exquisite blueberry pannacotta you’ll find at Sushi Pop Oviedo.

For pet lovers, few things are more magical than sharing mealtime with a well-behaved pupper or two, in which case the venerable and always adorable Maxine’s on Shine (also among the Michelin-selected) may be just your cup of tea.

“We are so excited about our menu this year. It’s very sexy, comfortable and delicious,” says co-owner and namesake Maxine Earhart, happily hyping the work of chef George Vogelbacher. “He’s done a great job … and will be including an incredible vegan dish, as well, this year: a corn starch-crusted cauliflower steak with olive tapenade, a Maxine’s twist on a rice pilaf and grilled asparagus that’s also gluten-free and dairy-free.”

At Sushi Pop, Trinh touts Winter Park’s ceviche roll entree as the OG.

“It takes like summer — chilled snapper and hamachi with just the right amount of hot sauce, fried shallots for some crunch, cilantro for freshness and acidity and Hawaiian salt to balance everything out.”

Says Maxine’s co-owner Kirt Earhart: “It doesn’t matter what part of the epicurean staycation you’re involved in, whether it be Bite30, Sip & Savor or Magical Dining, your four-legged friend, Fido, deserves a step-above and a Scooby Snack whenever they go out to eat, so coming to see us at Maxine’s on Shine, we’re gonna make sure they feel mighty fine.”

There’s no Foodie Award for impromptu restaurant rhymes, but in this instance, I’ll hand out an honorary.

Other Orlando Sentinel Foodie Award Critic’s Picks in this year’s Magical Dining roster include: Wa Sushi, Russell’s on Lake Ivanhoe, The Strand, Luke’s Kitchen + Bar, 1921 Mount Dora, Boheme Restaurant, Kabooki Sushi, Bites & Bubbles, The Back Room Steakhouse, The Tap Room at Dubsdread, Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar, VINIA Wine & Kitchen, Z Asian Vietnamese Kitchen, Bulla Gastrobar, Reel Fish Coastal Kitchn + Bar and The Ravenous Pig.

Want to reach out? Find me on Twitter, TikTok or Instagram @amydroo or on the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com. Join the conversation at the Orlando Sentinel’s Facebook food group, Let’s Eat, Orlando.