The latest from Scott Joseph's Orlando Restaurant Guide ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Marlin Bar
You know a restaurant has a weird system when the first thing a waiter says to you when he greets you at your table is, “I realize our system is a little weird here.”
This was at Marlin Bar at Tommy Bahama in Winter Park Village. Many of you will remember Tommy Bahama Cafe when it was at Pointe Orlando (it closed in 2018). It was a full-service restaurant and bar next to a Tommy Bahama retail store. About the only thing that’s the same here is that Marlin Bar is also next to a full retail store filled with the high priced (and let’s face it, high quality) silk and linen clothing the retailer is known for. A lot of the clothing bears a logo of a marlin fish, hence the name Marlin Bar.
The big difference here is that the restaurant isn’t exactly full service, though it doesn’t use the term quick service, either. One enters at the bar and is greeted by a cashier. Patrons are expected to order and pay or at the very least leave a credit card on file.
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Newsy Nuggets: The Drake, H&H Bagels, Voodoo Bayou, Short Stroll to Sip & Savor, and cruising with Collantes
The Drake Kitchen + Bar, from chefs and co-owners Heberto and Rona Segura, officially opened last week at the Radius apartment following a ceremony by mayor Buddy Dyer. You can’t get any more official than having the city’s top official officiating.
I’ll have a full review coming up, but I can tell you that it’s a lovely space with food brought to you from chefs with street cred (the street being wherever they parked their popular food truck). Here’s a link to the website.
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Orlando Wine Festival and Auction already a sold-out success
The Orlando Wine Festival and Auction, the annual food and wine event benefitting the Orlando magic Youth Foundation, will be March 1 through 3 at its new home, the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort. As in past years, the event begins with a series of dinners in private homes on Friday, each headed by one of the featured chefs, then continues on Saturday afternoon with an outdoors grand tasting paired with foods from those same chefs.
Things move inside at 5 p.m. for the live auction, featuring vacations, winery tours, sporting events and other high-ticket items. Then a sit-down dinner and entertainment. Things wrap up on Sunday with a Magic home game (that’s played at Kia Arena, not at the Four Seasons.
This is where I would normally tell you how much it costs and give you a link to purchase tickets, but there’s no need to do that.
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Next Dinner Party at Rocco's Italian Grille & Bar
I’m pleased to announce that the next Scott Joseph’s Dinner Party will be at the esteemed Rocco’s Italian Grille & Bar in Winter Park. The date is Thursday, March 7, and we’ll gather for a reception at 6:30 p.m. with seated dinner at 7. Tickets are $175, including tax and gratuity, and may be purchased by calling the restaurant at 407-644-7770.
Our host, the chef and owner Rocco Potami, has put together a delectable five course dinner, each selection paired with a perfect wine. Here’s a look at the menu:
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