Get ready, baseball fans: The 2016 MLB season will be here before we know it, and in the meantime, each team will get a few weeks to figure out and finalize its roster before heading home. If you plan to attend one (or more) of the 30 teams' Spring Training games this year, you might want to know a little bit about each of the stadium's surrounding areas. More specifically, what is there to eat?
Whether it's for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, there are ample options for dining around -- but not all of them are spectacular, and not all of them are necessarily convenient to the stadiums. We looked exclusively at eateries within a five-mile radius of each stadium, and picked the best place to grab a bite, be it from a fancy, four-diamond establishment, a popular local diner or a friendly neighborhood tavern.
Atlanta Braves, Champion Stadium, Lake Buena Vista
Choosing the best restaurant in Lake Buena Vista is basically the same as choosing the best in Disney World, since that's the town the park is actually located in (take that, Orlando!) On that note, the Yachtsman Steak House is the place to go for Braves fans after watching a game at nearby Champion Stadium. Situated at Disney's Yacht Club Resort, the restaurant offers casually elegant atmosphere, and steaks like 12-ounce New York strip and signature 16-ounce rib-eye are not to be missed. Not a meat eater? Try the outstanding lobster bisque.
Baltimore Orioles, Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota
Rejoice, Orioles fans, there are a ton of fantastic restaurants near Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, and one of the closest is the Pomona Bistro and Wine Bar. With owners/chefs Arthur Lopes and Ryan Boeve at the helm, the eatery offers Continental cuisine like small plates of tortelloni of duck confit and sea scallops, as well as main courses that feature red snapper in parchment and Seminole beef filet mignon. Don't forget about the cheese plates either, which are great as an appetizer or dessert. We'll go with the chocolate souffle for the later meal, though.
Boston Red Sox, JetBlue Park at Fenway South, Fort Myers
Heading to see the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park at Fenway South? Stop for breakfast at The Gathering Place first. Serving some of the best breakfast and dessert in town, The Gathering Place is also famous for their made-from-scratch mac-and-cheese, and the fact that they are located in the nurses' office of a former nursing home. Weird? Sure. But come on, Sox fans, did you really want to go eat at some fancy, white table cloth establishment? We didn't think so.
Detroit Tigers, Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland
Looking for a post-Tigers-game meal in Lakeland? Head straight down Lakeland Hills Boulevard from Joker Marchant Stadium to Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille. Sure, it's a technically a chain with five restaurants around Florida, but that doesn't mean their New Orleans-style Creole food isn't worth trying -- and the Lakeland location is the closest you'll get to any spring training stadium. Go for a classic like jambalaya or shrimp-n-grits, or choose Harry's crab cakes and six other signature dishes.
Houston Astros, Osceola County Stadium, Kissimmee
With all these stadiums in Florida, we'd be remiss not to mention at least one Caribbean restaurant. Enter Haiti-born chef Pouchon Savion and his namesake restaurant, Savion's Place. Only a few miles from the Houston Astros' Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Savion's has been featured on the Cooking Channel show Emeril's Florida, which showcased the restaurant's signature jambalaya, along with menu options like fried plantain bowls filled with juicy prawns and pulled pork and two eight-ounce pork rib-eyes with sweet potato mash and fresh broccoli.
Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter
Whether you’re a fan of the Miami Marlins or the St. Louis Cardinals, you'll love dining at Leftovers Cafe -- only a mile away from Roger Dean Stadium, A local hangout, Leftovers' innovative dishes include Indoroni (Sriracha Mac & Cheese) and sweet potato, Yucca garlic, red beet and almond, or butternut and jack cheese-crusted fish. Bonus: Jupiter also hosts a monthly (every second Friday) Food Truck Invasion at the Town Center, so be on the lookout for that too!
Minnesota Twins, Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers
Luckily for Minnesota Twins fans, the team's Hammond Stadium is only a few miles from La Trattoria Cafe Napoli, known to regulars as Gloria's. Chef/owner Gloria Jordan serves European cuisine with an emphasis on Spanish and Mediterranean dishes, so of course we'd recommend the tapas, but parties of eight or more can also enjoy Gloria's signature, tender, slow-roasted suckling pig. So be sure to make some friends at the game.
New York Mets, Tradition Field, Port St. Lucie
Located just around the corner from the New York Mets' Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie, Lola's Seafood Eatery is a chef-owned, no frills, New England-style eatery serving made-to-order fish, crab, lobster, or meat dishes in the form of sandwiches, or in a salad or basket. Just order at the counter, grab a table, and wait for your delicious meal to come to you.
New York Yankees, George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
No, Bern's Steak House is not named after fan-favorite former Yankee Bernie Williams, but it is located just a few miles from George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. Family-owned since opening in 1956, Bern's is a meat-lover's heaven, and guests can't get enough of its aged, charcoal-grilled steaks served with sides of locally-grown vegetables straight from the Bern's farm. Don't forget to check out the wine cellar and upstairs dessert room, and be aware that there's a strict dress code. Then again, Yankee fans should be used to clothing and grooming regulations by now.
Philadelphia Phillies, Bright House Field, Clearwater
We might have stretched our five-mile rule just a bit for this one, but it's worth it to get to Carreta on the Gulf, the city's only AAA four-diamond restaurant, which sits above the sand on Clearwater Beach. Still only seven miles from the Philadelphia Phillies' Bright House Field, Carreta offers seasonal seafood (like the fresh catch of the day) and its spin on traditional American and European fare, including a veal porterhouse and "Naked Bird Chicken" with truffle mac and cheese. Don't know what to get? Order the chef's dinner tasting menu, which includes wine pairings and dessert.
Pittsburgh Pirates, McKechnie Field, Bradenton
A doughnut shop might not seem like a good candidate for best restaurant in Bradenton, but Turner Donut Shop is the best around, and we don't think Pittsburgh Pirates fans would be opposed to grabbing a quick breakfast somewhere that's walking distance from McKechnie Field. So grab a coffee, a breakfast sandwich, and one of their signature spudnuts (potato-based doughnuts). Use the extra cash to upgrade your stadium seats.
Tampa Bay Rays, Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte
Often referred to as the best pizza in all of Port Charlotte, Bella Napoli Pizzeria & Restaurant has been in business for more than 11 years, and it shows in its delectable dishes. Whether it's a traditional favorite like chicken parmesan and spaghetti meatballs, or a signature pizza of the thin crust, Sicilian, or stuffed variety, Rays fans will be pleasantly surprised when they grab a postgame bite only a short drive from Charlotte Sports Park.
Toronto Blue Jays, Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, Dunedin
Whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner, you can head to Kelly's for Just About Everything ... for just about everything. Opened in 1989 as a restaurant, Kelly's added the Chic a Boom Room martini bar in 2001 and Blur Nightclub and Showbar in 2007, so Toronto Blue Jays fans can choose to stop in for Eggs Benedict or Elvis-Style French Toast before heading to Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, order pork osso buco braised in a rosemary black garlic demi after the game, or celebrate the win all night long while sipping one of eight draft and 85 bottled beer options. We recommend all three.
Washington Nationals, Space Coast Stadium, Viera
There isn't an awful lot in Viera, especially when it comes to eateries, but locals swear by Austin's Chophouse, which is only a few miles from the Nationals' Space Coast Stadium. Whether you eat in the main dining room or the South Beach-style lounge, Austin's is fantastic for entrees like its 24-hour short ribs, venison saddle, and lamb chops, as well as the rotating selection of cheeses. And with its own in-house pastry chef, you'll want to save room for the ever-changing list of homemade desserts, too.
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