If we could offer you the chance to dine at one of Orlando’s most remarkable restaurants with a 25 per cent saving, would you be interested, intrigued, even? Well, we are here this week to insist that this sounds-too-good-to-be-true offer is very real and very worthwhile this month! It is all part of that palate-pleasing Magical Dining season that arrives each September, offering prix fixe meals at a significant saving from the norm, with two tiers of restaurant choice, at $40 per person for the majority and $60 for the most upmarket ones. It encourages everyone, locals and visitors alike, to get out and try a few places that might otherwise be just out of our budget, and the rewards can be spectacular.
Step forward the Chef’s Table at The Edgewater.
This boutique little gem in the thriving city suburb of Winter Garden has been quietly creating a niche for itself as one of Florida’s most foodie-inclined restaurants since it first opened in 2008, the brainchild of two Disney culinary glitterati who wanted to create something different in their corner of Orlando. They chose the historic Edgewater Hotel – a 1927 original that hosted the likes of Clark Gable and Humphrey Bogart back in the day – because it had just undergone a massive refurbishment to keep its antique vibe looking fresh, and because they felt Winter Garden was on the verge of a major revitalisation. They were right on all counts.
The Edgewater itself is a local gem, full of period features and décor, while it also boasts an old-fashioned ice cream parlour and a barber’s. But the real treasure is its Chef’s Table restaurant, a line-up of just 12 tables in three different sections nestled by the kitchen.
With candle-style lighting and elegant place settings, it certainly looks the part of a multi-award-winning dining delight, tucked away in splendid isolation deep within the hotel, and completely separate from the more casual style of sister restaurant The Tasting Room, which was also created by the husband-and-wife culinary team of Kevin and Laurie Tarter. Kevin was formerly the head chef at Disney’s five-star Victoria and Albert’s restaurant at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, while Laurie worked at the upscale California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, hence they both brought plenty of deluxe dining expertise to The Edgewater.
It was only last year, though, that the Chef’s Table joined the Magical Dining programme, and we immediately made plans to sample it for the first time. Sadly, our schedule last September ended up too crowded to permit an evening of fine dining, but we hoped the restaurant would again be part of the Magical offerings for 2025. We weren’t disappointed.
This time, we made sure to have it firmly in our sights for a special evening out, and last Sunday gave us the perfect opportunity to put its culinary chops to the test. Happily, we were able to book a table at relatively short notice – a major achievement in itself, as it is often booked up weeks in advance – and set off for bustling Winter Garden on a typical Orlando August evening.
There is plenty of (free) street parking in this lovely Main Street location, and we were right on time for our 7.30 reservation. Intriguingly, it felt like we were having a private tour of the hotel as we were conducted through the Tasting Room and into the inner workings of the hotel, with a three-table setting right next to the main kitchen section. Dinner with a show, indeed!
Now, the essential thing to know about the Chef’s Table is that it is already a prix fixe restaurant in its own right. Its regular menu consists of a three-course meal selection for a set price of $75 (plus tax and gratuity), so it slots into the Magical Dining ethos very easily. Only the cost right now is just $60, or a $15 per person saving on the regular pricing ($30 for the two of us, or a $60 saving for a group of four).
When it came to ordering, we were definitely spoiled for choice, with three options for starter and four for main course and dessert. We settled on the Beef Tartar and Mushroom Roulade for appetisers, and Pan-Seared Cod and 12-Hour Slow Braised Short Rib as our entrees, leaving the Aviator Salad (starter) and House Rubbed Pork Ribeye and Vegetarian Truffle Risotto for another day (we hope!). For dessert, we chose the Double Chocolate Bread Pudding and Crème Brulee, passing up on the Tiramisu Pavlova and Chef’s Sorbet.
The starters were equally flavourful and stacked with eye appeal, the former consisting of cornichons, radish, horseradish, creme fraiche and grilled sourdough toast points, while the roulade featured mushroom duxelle, roasted shallot cream sauce, sharp white cheddar, chive crepes and truffle salt. Lip-smackingly good.
Our main courses were also highly contrasting, the short rib being packed with thick, rich meaty satisfaction as well as fondant potatoes, seared trumpet mushrooms, haricot vert and bordelaise sauce, while the cod was simply a melt-in-the-mouth delight, highlighted by harissa-spiced celery puree, bruleed compressed watermelon (an absolute taste sensation), blood orange beurre blanc and sauteed caulilini (a type of cauliflower).
Both desserts hit the mark for sweet-toothed satisfaction, providing true gourmet versions of each dish. The bread pudding was a wonderful concoction that put us more in mind of a chocolate brownie and cheesecake mix, slathered with toasted marshmallow fluff, dark chocolate ganache, salted caramel and a sensational graham cracker ice cream. By contrast, we absolutely adored the silky delicacy of the brulee, which came with strawberry custard, shortbread crumble, chantilly cream and fresh strawberries.
We should also mention the drinks (which do cost extra). The cocktail and mocktail list is easily one of the best we’ve seen, and we were immensely pleased with our selections of the Beez in the Trap (Garrison Brothers Bourbon, Cocchi Americano, Lavender Bitters, Fresh Lemon Juice and Citrus Infused Honey) and the non-alcoholic Private Dancer (Seedlip Grove, Passionfruit Vanilla and Gruvi Sparkling Rosé). Both delivered plenty of flavour as well as a creative twist that definitely tickled the tastebuds.
In all honesty, we couldn’t fault a single morsel of a spectacular dinner, which was all delivered with impeccable and highly personable service from our server, J.J. Everything about the menu was fully explained, and really set the seal on the most memorable of meals. The impressively organised – but small! – kitchen also served as a real focal point of constant fascination.
So, if you’re looking for that truly special dining experience in a city that boasts quite a few, a special anniversary or birthday treat, perhaps, we think you’ll be hard pushed to better the Chef’s Table, and a meal which we rate in our top 10 all-time in Florida.
Find out more about Orlando’s Magical Dining programme, which runs until September 30, on this link.
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