The Bistro on Park Avenue

Call (407) 539-6520 for more information.

• Kayla
  More than a year ago
  Beautiful Ambiance, Very Dog Friendly

  My husband and I were spending the weekend in the Orlando area for a quick weekend getaway with our Golden Retriever, Pineapple. We love to take her on trips with us, but we've always taken her on things like camping or remote locations rather than cities because we weren't sure she would be welcome in restaurants, city parks, etc. However, Orlando, specifically the Winter Park and Thornton Park area, turned out to be very dog friendly! We went to dinner at The Bistro on Park Avenue on Friday night. We had just been at the near-by dog park and wanted to dine somewhere with a dog friendly patio where we could take Pineapple but still enjoy a nice meal. We saw this restaurant on BringFido and decided to check it out. The outside area is beautiful. I believe they call it the "secret garden" and that's what it is like - a little secluded garden away from everything. Even though it's right off Park Avenue, which is a busy street, you can't hear any traffic noises. There is a pretty fountain, some bright colorful flowers, and a small herb garden surrounding the tables. One thing I especially liked is that they have two layers of umbrellas over the tables which is nice since both my husband and I sunburn easily. My husband went in to inquire about a table and the waitress came right out and told us to pick which table we wanted and immediately brought our puppy a big bowl of ice water. She brought us menus and waters and was very attentive. There were several things on the menu that caught our eye, but we ended up deciding on the summer special menu for 2 people. It included an appetizer of choice, two select entrees, and a dessert of choice for $53 which seemed like a good value since it was basically getting the appetizer and dessert for free. We choose the lobster-swiss-bacon dip for our starter. It was okay, but not my favorite appetizer ever. It was pretty greasy and while the lobster was okay, you really couldn't distinguish it from being seafood or fish or another type of seafood. However, the homemade pita chips served with it were excellent and made me wish we had ordered the hummus instead since the pita chips were so good. For our entree, we both ordered the steak tips with a blue cheese sauce. While the sauce was tasty, I was a bit disappointed because the meat was overcooked and tough. The mashed potatoes were excellent though - definitely made from scratch and not a mix. Throughout the meal, the waitress refilled both our waters and our dogs water. Plus, she brought our dog two plates of dog treats, and a slice of bacon for a special treat so of course Pineapple was very happy! The highlight of the meal was without a doubt dessert. We tried the rosemary honey gelato and it was superb. It was such a unique flavor and very refreshing on a hot day. I would probably go back just to have dessert. In addition to the great service from the waitress, a lady that I assumed was the owner or manager, stopped by a couple of times to check on us. There was also a gentleman hanging out with his computer having a few drinks at a table next to us so it seemed like a good place to just hang out if you had some work to do. Overall, I would say the location, ambiance, and service were all exceptional. The dessert was also exceptional but the rest of the food was pretty average. My gauge is always whether or not I would try the place again, and in this case, I would definitely go back, maybe to try brunch or lunch, the next time we're in the area.

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