Top 5 ways to dine out and support Orlando

The outpouring of love and support for victims and others affected by the Orlando tragedy has been heartwarming. Let's keep the good vibes going and support these restaurants that are donating a portion of their proceeds to the OneOrlando Fund and other funds:

1. Dine Out for Orlando United. Several Florida restaurants will be donating proceeds on June 30 to the OneOrlando Fund, designed to respond to the needs of the local community, now and in the time to come. Participating restaurants in the Orlando area include: A Land Remembered at Rosen Shingle Creek, Baoery Asian Gastropub, BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse, Bonefish Grill, Boston Lobster Feast, Christner's Prime Steak and Lobster, Funky Monkey Bistro & Bar, Hawkers, Krispy Kreme Dougnuts, Morimoto Asia, Miller's Ale House and many more. See the full list on the web site. 

2. Benefit Barbecue for the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida on July 10. Hosted by Chef Kevin Fonzo of K Restaurant Wine Bar and Jamie McFadden of Cuisiners Catered Cuisiner and Events, it will be held at East End Market from 4-8 pm.

3. 4 Rivers Smokehouse and The Coop are giving guests the option to round up their purchase or donate any dollar amount to the victims and families affected by the Orlando tragedy. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved," the restaurants said. 

4. The Sanctum Cafe: During June, the vegan eatery's Karma Bowl will be offered for $5. Any proceeds donated above that, will go directly to the GoFundMe account benefiting victims who have been affected by the tragedy. 

5. The Osprey Tavern has added the Orlando Strong cocktail to its menu, and 100% of the sales of this cocktail will be donated to Equality Florida's Pulse Victim Fund.

Top Orlando Easter Brunch Spots

If you want to dine out in Orlando for Easter brunch, lunch or dinner, there are certainly plenty of fun and delicious events going on! I would suggest seeing if your favorite restaurant has a special Easter brunch menu - most do - and going to a place you know you are going to get great food. 

If you want to try something new, here are the top five events that look most interesting and tasty to us (all on Easter Sunday):

Bonefish Grill's Creme Brulee French Toast

1. Most unique: Enzian Theater's Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt with special screening of Mary Poppins. The egg hunt with prizes starts at 10:30 a.m., followed by brunch and then the movie at 12:00 p.m. Sounds like great family fun!

2. Great value and delicious food: For just $25 per person, enjoy one entree such as Lamb & Eggs, two sides and two brunch cocktails at American Gymkhana, from 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

3. Brunch I most want to try: Soco Thorton Park's brunch, from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., features Lobster Eggs Benedict, Truffle-infused Steak Tartarte with Quail's Egg Yolk and other upscale treats for foodies.

4. Another brunch that has me drooling: Bonefish Grill's brunch menu looks outstanding and includes unique takes on favorites, such as Creme Brulee French Toast and Oscar Omelet with Smoked Mozzarella and Asparagus. 

5. Most variety: Really, any type of food you are in the mood for can be found at Rosen Shingle Creek's Osceola Cafe brunch. While it is the most expensive on our list, we had a great experience there in the past. Have fun with the Make Your Own Pasta station, the incredible dessert bar, the Peking duck crepes, sushi, several different Mi Casa tacos and much more. 11:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Always Happy at Bonefish Grill

While Bonefish Grill has been around Central Florida with two locations for a few years, people tend to forget the restaurant when planning a special night out with family or friends.

We visited the Longwood location recently and had a wonderful experience overall. I ordered my favorite specialty cocktail there: the Black Cherry and Guava Mojito. With fresh mashed cherries and a light feel, this is a delicious drink. We also tried the Pineapple Martini, which was refreshing and not too sweet.

Unfortunately, our appetizer was not the best. While the Shrimp and Scallop Ceviche has great flavor, the scallops were overcooked and rubbery. However, the flavor and quality of our entrees made up for that. We both ordered that night's specials. The hubby had Imperial Sea Bass: Chilean Sea Bass stuffed with crab, shrimp, scallops, and a lemon caper butter sauce. The crab stuffing was delicious and the bass was perfectly cooked. All the flavors came together to make a delicious meal. I ordered the Chilean Sea Bass with a side of Jasmine Rice. I actually like this preparation of the bass better: simply wood-grilled with butter. The fish flaked nicely and I enjoyed each delicous forkful, even if the portion size was too small.

On this night, we decided to splurge on entrees priced at around $24 each. However, Bonefish Grill offers several small plates and appetizers that allows for an affordable night out, especially during the restaurant's great happy hour. I recommend the Bang Bang Shrimp, Mussels Josephine, and the Wagyu Beef & Ginger Dumplings.

Let me know your experience at Bonefish Grill in the comments section below!