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Dan Marino's Town Tavern (Orlando)

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Location: Pointe Orlando

Our thoughts: The first time we heard about this restaurant was when one of us saw their ad in the L&M Car Rental coupon book. Somehow, the words "We could eat at Dan Marino's Town Tavern" uttered from the front seat were heard in the back seat as "We could eat bean burritos at the town tavern." This became one of those catchphrases that you could repeat endlessly without the joke getting old. A few years later, we actually decided to visit the restaurant, and have since gone there three times.

In the latest visit, the restaurant had changed its name to "Dan Marino's Fine Foods," but a lot of the coupons and the signage hadn't caught up with the name change yet.

The restaurant is located in the Pointe Orlando mall on International Drive, which includes lots of other restaurants, an IMAX movie theater and an XS video arcade. When you enter the restaurant, you see lots of photos and memorabilia of Dan Marino, and some of them even show him playing football! (Other ones have him in his "chef" garb.)

We never got seated in any really good seating. We always seemed to be on the outskirts of the restaurant (good views of the many TVs showing ESPN are located near the raised bar in the center of the restaurant). Maybe it was because the last time we went, I was wearing my New England Patriots Super Bowl championship T-shirt. (Take that, Dan Marino!) We ended up at the table right near the emergency exit.

The food was really good (and especially so since they renamed the restaurant). Our favorites included the tomato bisque, the caesar salad, and the ribs. If you have enough room for dessert, try the warm chocolate chip cookie pie. It's a baked chocolate chip cookie with ice cream. Very good.

Tip: You don't have to come to Orlando for food this good. Dan Marino's also has restaurants in St. Petersburg, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Coral Springs.