Knife Burger

The Write-Up

The full story

Chef John Tesar's poolside burger stand at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes, where a swimsuit is acceptable attire and the beef gets steakhouse respect. The sirloin patties come off the grill the way guests like them, in builds like The Ozersky, the Double Ozersky, and The Magic on an English muffin with bacon. A mahi mahi sandwich covers the non-burger order, and the whole setup stays laid-back and open-air.

District Story

The story of Grande Lakes

A hotel in the boondocks, a road paved after it and named to sound big and important, and the corridor that taught Orlando how to be a vacation.

Read the Grande Lakes story →

Similar Feel

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Matched by vibe, not by neighborhood: the places across Greater Orlando closest in spirit to Knife Burger.

Knife & Spoon

Fine dining & steak · Grande Lakes · $$$$

The Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes steakhouse is built on a simple split, knife for beef and spoon for seafood, in a polished room.

Knife & Spoon, 4012 Central Florida Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32837-7662

The Whiskey

Bars & lounges · Sand Lake · $$

Rock and roll energy on Sand Lake, with chef-driven burgers and a bar that runs deep on whiskey.

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The Capital Grille

Fine dining & steak · Pointe Orlando · $$$$

The default client steakhouse at Pointe Orlando, a short walk from the Rosen hotels, running the full expense-account ritual.

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Black Hammock Restaurant

Restaurants · Oviedo · $$

An Old Florida fish camp on Lake Jesup, where the menu leans into the setting: gator bites, fried gator tail, catfish nuggets, a gator burger.

2316 Black Hammock Fish Camp Rd, Oviedo, FL 32765

Kobe Japanese Steakhouse

Japanese & sushi · International Drive · $

Dinner becomes theater on International Drive, with teppanyaki chefs, onion volcanoes, flying shrimp and tricks guests had not seen before.

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Ford's Garage

Burgers & sandwiches · I-Drive · $$

A burger bar dressed as a 1920s service station at the outlets, with vintage Fords overhead and shop rags for napkins.

4971 International Dr Ste 3D.09, Orlando, FL 32819

Keep Going

More in International Drive

Other places in International Drive, closest to Knife Burger first.

Knife & Spoon

Fine dining & steak · Steakhouse · $$$$

The Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes steakhouse is built on a simple split, knife for beef and spoon for seafood, in a polished room.

Knife & Spoon, 4012 Central Florida Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32837-7662

Oza Izakaya

Japanese & sushi · Japanese · $$

Sleek, garden-like Japanese room on Central Florida Parkway, beautiful and unhurried in a way that suits a date night.

Oza Izakaya, 5310 Central Florida Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32821-8772

Selam Ethiopian

Restaurants · Ethiopian · $$

A warm, calm, family-run room on Central Florida Parkway serving Ethiopian and Eritrean cooking built for sharing.

Selam, 5494 Central Florida Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32821-8774

Discovery Cove

Attractions · Theme Park · $$$$

The calm splurge on I-Drive: a reservation-only day resort where attendance is capped and the water stays clear.

6000 Discovery Cove Way, Orlando, FL 32821

Aquatica Orlando

Attractions · Water Park · $$$

At SeaWorld's water park, the Dolphin Plunge clear tube passes Commerson's dolphins, and Roa's Rapids runs faster than a lazy river should.

5800 Water Play Way, Orlando, FL 32821

SeaWorld Orlando

Attractions · Theme Park · $$$$

A working marine park with serious coasters, from Mako and Pipeline to Penguin Trek, plus orca presentations and a shark tunnel.

7007 SeaWorld Dr, Orlando, FL 32821