The Bistro On Park Avenue

Love the ambient. Only had drinks and dessert at the bar so far, but definitively coming back for dinner. Everything that we saw looked and smelled awesome.

My boyfriend never makes a reservation for anything and was so excited that he reserved us a table in the «hidden garden» for a romantic Valentine’s Day brunch. As first time guests we were not aware that this needed to be a special request made at the reservation stage, and whatever transpired on the phone when he called to reserve the table made him feel like we’d be in the garden, which we were not. When we inquired about a table in that area we were rudely dismissed by the gentleman at the door (who ended up being one of the owners) and informed that these tables had been booked for months. Fair enough. But the manner with which that message was delivered tainted the entire experience. He pretty much laughed in our face — and if I wasn’t trying to pretend like this restaurant that my boyfriend selected was acceptable, we would have walked out.
We were seated in a dining room with no ambiance, within eye shot of the garden area, which reminded us throughout our entire experience just how un-​special our actual spot was. It appeared that the roses from the prior nights service were clumsily stored in a corner of the room where we sat. My poor boyfriend had to ask the rude host/​owner if he could have one for the table, to which he dismissively said something to the tune of «whatever.»
The food was mediocre and slow.
The service was unpolished with poor timing. When we needed her she wasn’t there, but were interrupted when nothing was needed.
The cocktails were un-​thoughtful and overpriced.
I’ve worked in restaurants for a long time, and holidays can be brutal — I get it. But for every amateur diner, there is a guest who isn’t out to complain. We were actually excited to check out this restaurant and experience it in the best way possible. There are a lot of great spots in this area, and this isn’t one of them. Wish we didn’t choose Valentine’s Day to find that out the hard way.

Food was ok, but way overpriced for the quality. Service was frazzled, didn’t know which servers were covering which sections.

In response to the manager’s comment on my review. We were not advised we would have to wait 45 minutes to eat when we were sat immediately upon walking in since there was no wait and the restaurant was NOT busy. I have eaten at Briarpatch when it is not Valentine’s day (i.e. a normal Sunday) and they are far busier than this restaurant was on Sunday. There were plenty of empty tables when we sat down and when we left. The fact the manager is not willing to admit there is a problem speaks volume in and of itself.

Well, this was quite an experience. As a local I really enjoy trying all of the different restaurants Park Ave. has to offer with my family. Today, it was this one. One thing I truly hate is having to leave a bad review but sometimes it has to be done in order to see some change come into play. There are only two positives to this restaurant. It’s location and our server. The location is so beautiful and is situated in a cute little corner. Our server (who I sadly have forgotten the name of) was so kind and was always so attentive. Now on to the more negative aspects:
*The Hostess: When entering there was no smile or greeting. It was kind of awkward and he just stared and was like «for two?» And then rolled his eyes? I don’t understand what I did but that was that. Once being seated we asked for a high chair he replied «Don’t have any» What kind of restaurant are they running here?
*The Wait: I ordered at 11:35. The food was served at 12:21. Nearly an hour for some eggs and pancakes. Once food arrived we were told that there was a «more important» order in front of us. Wow, thanks!
*The Food: The pancakes were horrible. They were tasteless and sadly not even syrup and butter could save them. They should consider calling them crepes with no filling instead. The omelette was alright. Nothing special.
All in all, I will not be returning but I do hope for the sake of the restaurant things change.

RUDE! RUDE! RUDE!!! DO NOT GO HERE!!! HORRIBLE MANAGEMENT!
We are local Orlandoians who love trying all places on Park ave. We had a small problem and at first the manager REFUSED TO COME OUT. Then; finally, on the way out we caught him and he was rude and selfish– arguing that they have to do things the way they do, and charge extra fees like split charges because we use their chairs, and napkins. I mean, really? BAD BUSINESS. If a customer has a problem, take care of it. Don’t argue with them. Thankfully there are tons of other wonderful restaurants on Park Ave so we NEVER HAVE TO GO HERE AGAIN!

Horrible experience. There’s a reason it’s easy to get into on weekend nights. Ask for Hugo. He’ll treat you like a king… lol.

This is a nice little bistro with a lot of history. It used to be a nunnery, and high in the ceiling you can see some crosses. Pretty cool! The food a really good. The salmon is probably the best dish. The location is secluded in the back of the building, and it is very romantic. There are several cute little shops around the restaurant. Perfect place for a date night.

Good hideaway for brunch. You have to walk through a corridor to find if, but definitely a secret paradise. Food was great, only complaint was that there was no option for fruit printed on the menu.

I really enjoy The Bistro on Park Ave. I hosted my rehearsal dinner here for 30 people and I’ve dined there 3 times in the process. I’m so happy this is the place we went with! We rented the outside sun room for a deposit which was later applied to our bill. My parents and I went to the restaurant to sample menu items and pick what we would want to serve, then my in-​laws and I did the same thing, and then we were there for the actual event. Each encounter was pleasant and delicious.
Planning the Event/​Staff: The staff was friendly and helpful during every interaction. The owner, Erika, was available when we needed her and kept in good contact, providing us reasonable deadlines for planning purposes. Before our first visit, we scheduled some time to talk to the owner and she joined us for a discussion throughout our meal, first to get a handle on our event then checking in on what we thought about the food. Erika cooks all of her own desserts from scratch so she gave us pricing on cooking specific pies for our party or just offering it by the slice. They offered to set up buffet tables for appetizers and desserts along with a sit down dinner. With 30 people it was a little cramped so I wouldn’t recommend much more than that (perhaps with different table arrangement), but it was still comfortable. My mother has a severe shellfish allergy and this was printed in huge bold lettering on the event sheet so the kitchen wouldn’t miss it, there were no issues.
The Food: Was great.
I abso-​freaking-​lutely loved their Flatbread with prosciutto, brie, fig jelly and spring mix.
The Fettuccini with Pesto Infused Vegetables was my favorite entrée. Second fave goes to Wienerschnitzel (Erika is German and this dish is on point). I don’t know what she did to the crust of the Key Lime Pie, but that came out amazingly, so did the Strawberry Rhubarb pie as well. The Lobster Swiss and Bacon dip with fried tortilla wedges came highly recommended by the staff and was pretty good, but it wasn’t what I heard murmurs over.
The Atmosphere: The location is off of the main strip of park ave, behind some of the boutiques in the «hidden garden» and you definitely feel the hidden vibe. The sun room is significantly more romantic and appealing than the inside IMHO, I would not have had my rehearsal dinner there if it involved the booths on the inside. When I had to walk to the restroom, I felt a little like I was in a different restaurant (thankfully the food is the same)
For Smokers: Park avenue in general is not very friendly to smokers, so you’re not technically allowed to smoke in the «hidden garden» but there was an ally right outside the sun room where my friends sneaked off to when they weren’t blatantly disregarding that rule.
Overall, the staff was accommodating, the food was filling and savory, and the atmosphere in the sun room is romantic and cheerful.

Walking along the busy streets of Winter Park during the morning, I happened to stumble upon an alley way to my left which had a beautiful water fountain flowing with water. I can see some outside patio tables and people lounging with coffee and some snacks. I walk down the alley way, only to find to my surprise this hidden gem of a Resturaunt called Bistro on the Park. I liked the sunroom, which I thought was really cozy. I can see a bridal shower of 15 women with beautiful balloons, gifts and drinking Mimosas from tall flute champagne glasses. I can see they are having fun and want to check out the rest of the Bistro. Walking in, the owner is Erica.
She is very nice and greets you with a warm smile. As she says, «walk this way and let me show you to your table», I feel VIP. As we sit down, she shows us the varieties of Mimosas that we can select with our meal. The Bistro has daily Saturday specials, which often changes and sometimes not that same. I chose the Banana Fosters Pancakes with a side of fruit and cottage cheese. It was to my ULTIMATE surprise, a delightful and enjoyable Bananas Foster dessert captured in a form of a pancake. I was mesmerized that the clovers did not over power one another but a spot on blend of just the right amount of ingredients. Since then, I have been back twice and brought guests who also enjoyed the various Benedict choices offered, as well as Key West Rueben sandwich. Each time I come back, Erica remembers me and my guests. I didn’t want to share this little gem with anyone, but I’m certainly happy to help Erica and her business succeed and grow. Also, it is recommended that if you like what the chef prepared, he likes to hear it through the window as each guests explains what they had and why they liked it. I hope you do too!

Romantic Restaurant perfect for a nice secluded dinner. The Bistro at Park Ave is a hidden gem for those who know about it.
They have a good menu and service was on point. Their staff is very friendly. The owner, Erika, is a great host and will do her best to accommodate any allergies. My wife has celiac disease and eats gluten free. They have many alternatives for GF.
In my opinion, this restaurant is special because of their location, romantic feeling with low lighting and solid brick walls. Perfect for a romantic dinner and wine :)
Check out their Sunday brunch and special events!

I’m a big fan of The Bistro for 3 reasons:
1. The Atmosphere. I love the sunroom, which looks out on the hidden courtyard. It’s very warm and welcoming, and enveloped in green foliage. This room is one of the prettiest and most romantic places on Park Ave.
2. Gluten Free Accommodations. I appreciate the restaurant’s willingness to accommodate gluten free requests. Several menu items can be modified to be gfree safe.
3. Interactive Guest Chef Events. I really love the nights that feature special dishes, new items, and guest chef appearances by Chef Bob. These nights are extra fun, and great opportunities to try unique dishes.
There are numerous choices on Park Ave., but there are often long lines, and the restaurants are crowded and noisy. I enjoy the intimate atmosphere of The Bistro, and appreciate dining away from the crowds.

I recently dined here for a special guest chef event with Chef Bob Aungst. It was one of the best meals I have had in a long time. The menu was all gluten free for this particular special menu evening and the food was spectacular. I love the way the restaurant is tucked back in the courtyard behind the avenue.

I visited the restaurant recently on a business luncheon. It was a prepaid luncheon. We entered mistakenly through the wrong door and a man who I assume was the owner glared at us with such contempt. We felt so unwelcome and awkward. We were seated and had some appetizers, but never even asked for a drink order. No water, nothing.
I will never be back. A totally underwhelming experience and what little I ate of the food it’s not all that for the owner to be rude to his guests.
Note to the owner and staff; make your guests feel welcome not like they are a nuisance.

The Bistro on Park is not exactly on Park. Winding down a long alleyway, the restaurant is tucked into what seems like the center of the block. Although it was still lunchtime, the restaurant was empty aside from staff. They were able to accommodate our group easily enough, given that one of our party was able to step up into a sunroom from her wheelchair.
The menu is in a French-​creole style, with crab cakes, jambalaya and shrimp po’ boys. I ordered a shrimp sandwich with a side of sweet potato fries. The fries were excellent, crisp and flavorful, and the sandwich was served on great bread. I would have loved a couple more shrimp on it, however. We enjoyed being able to look out over the courtyard, and be comfortable in the partial shade provided by trees. Service was attentive, and everything was timed well.

I love this place. I think some of the other reviews are rude and unforgiving. I had an excellent experience here, I brought my son who is a University of Central Florida senior along with his roommates for a graduation dinner. We didn’t have to dress up, the food was excellent, the atmosphere beautiful. It’s a very unique and rare garden/​cottage atmosphere that reminds me of San Francisco, in that it’s difficult to find, with
a winding hidden location. Exciting just arriving.

I had heard about this place from a few friends a while back and finally made it there for brunch with my wife. We chose to sit out in the patio area because it was a beautiful day and the view was quite charming.
After being seated our server came to take our drink order in a reasonable period of time. When she returned with my coffee and my wife’s coffee and mimosa I chose to test her menu knowledge and she immediately scored points with me in that area. I decided on the Crab Cake Benedict with the potatoes and a side of Andouille sausage. My wife ordered an omelet with bacon and Andouille sausage and grits with butter and cheese and some toast.
Our food was brought to us in a reasonable period of time so that was great but to be honest, for the prices they charge; I was expecting a more impressive presentation. I usually take a picture of my meal but when there is not even a garnish on the plate that does not wow me over. The Andouille sausage was fantastic but it was not made in house. I had two small crab patties topped with a poached egg and Hollandaise sauce. Hollandaise could have used a bit more citrus and I bit into 2 pieces of crab shell during my meal. The potatoes were very good and perfectly cooked. My wife’s omelet was very good but her grits were a different story. They are undercooked, lacking in seasoning and cold.
The server came back about ¾ of the way through our meal and I told her about the grits and the crab shell in my meal. She seemed to take it well but the manager never came to us and checked on the situation. I was not looking to have my meal comped BUT I would have at the least expected a manager to come check on us based on my comments to the server. TOTAL FAIL on the manager’s part.
Would I come back is the big question and I have to say that I just did not feel our meal was worth a $ 46 price tag. I was considering coming back for the Lobster Benedict BUT the couple to my left ordered it and they were not very impressed with their meal. With that said, I am not so sure I will be returning because I just don’t feel like I got my money’s worth in food…

Located just off of Park Ave, in a picturesque little courtyard, this restaurant has been a long time favorite of mine, and I visit it often. The owners, Erika and Hugo always make us feel like family. My favorite room in the restaurant is the glass enclosed courtyard room. Decorated for the holidays, it is especially pretty during this time of the year.
On this visit, we wanted to try the brunch choices and were especially thrilled with the custom champagne options. Our server, whose name was very pretty and exotic, escapes me. She was excellent. If the restaurant can provide her name after this review, I would recommend asking for her.
I has the signature video breakfast and my guest had the Rueben. Both were excellent, though my eggs were a little past «over easy». Hugo fixed that immediately and I have to recommend the breakfast potatoes — perfect!
The hit of the meal was clearly the beautiful custom champagne cocktails. There are numerous options and none of them are a bad choice.
Great for brunch, lunch, don’t and even just for drinks, I recommend this excellent restaurant anytime you are in downtown Winter Park and strolling up and down Park Ave.

Awful. The only reason for one star is that there isn’t a zero star option and that our daughter’s chicken tenders from the kids
Menu was good. Otherwise my Cosmo tasted bad from cheap vodka, lobster ravioli was cold inside and shrimp and grits were horrible! Everything was quite expensive too. Avoid!