The Strand

“I had an unexpected girls night here with a friend. We meant to go to the sister bar next door but I’m so glad I ended up here! I’ve seen and heard great things about the Strand and have been meaning to try it. First off, it was busy on a Wednesday night which I can only assume is a good thing. But despite being busy, there were a few open seats at the bar for walk-ins and I was able to snag two seats for my friends and I. It was also not overly loud for how busy it was. It felt very intimate and cozy. We ordered a drink each, split an appetizer, one entree, and a dessert and it came out to about $100 with tip, so not a cheap place but I think it was well worth it. The service was wonderful, prompt, and welcoming. They were out of a few dishes but that’s to be expected when you have a rotating menu and use fresh ingredients. We also were there on the later end of the evening, about 8pm. For an appetizer, we ordered a focaccia toast topped with some mushroom, onion, and ricotta. It was divine. My friend ordered the burger and loved it. It can’t with fries that looked like McD’s fries (which I’m an absolute fan of) but they tasted EVEN BETTER than McDs. We split dessert, olive oil chocolate cake which has a tahini mousse and sesame seeds. The cake was so well balanced. It was rich but not overly sweet and even had some saltiness from the tahini mousse. Overall one of my favorite Orlando dining experiences to date and I can’t wait to return!”

“Excellent culinary experience. I can’t believe that it’s been around for more than a decade and this was my first time. We shared the cesar salad and several entrees - duck, steak frites, red fish. They were all savory winners. The chocolate olive oil cake was flavorful without being too heavy.”

“Amazing from start to finish! We love good hospitality and my sister recommended we would have a great experience here so we tried it out! Brendon did not disappoint. He was kind, patient and very accommodating. The food was remarkable. We didn’t leave anything on the plate. We will definitely be back with friends and family. Thank you team!”

“I give the strand a 10/10. It was delicious, innovative food. We had the pasta Nero, red snapper and tiramisu. The snapper was tender and flakey and delectable. The dirty martini was very light and refreshing— they make their own brine and it shows. The tiramisu was not too sweet, very balanced with the tart raspberry. Yohan provided awesome service. He accommodated my unique drink request and took attentive care of us. Overall, an amazing experience. We will be back.”

“There’s nothing bland about The Strand. This is easily one of best restaurants in the burgeoning Mills50 food corridor - and maybe one of the best kept secrets in the Orlando cuisine scene. First thing about The Strand is the atmosphere. This is an unassuming, almost minimalist joint with simple decor and a homey, “come-on-in-neighbor” feel. The bar is a little tight, but we’ve eaten at it before and had some great banter with the staff. The apps were incredible. We had these fried mushrooms that were simply from another planet, and pork bellies that swelled with crispy goodness. The service was amazing. Paul, our waiter, locked down the specials with deft delivery - and they were an easy sell. We had the shortribs and the yellowtail, and both were fantastic. The fish was accompanied by a coconut rice and was drizzled with a light curry sauce that will make your toes curl. Prices are a little on the high side, and exacerbated if you hit the cocktail menu (most signature drinks will run you around $15 or more). There are some staples on the menu, but they try inventive things on the regular, so be sure to ask about the specials. If you’re exploring the Mills50 area for something exciting but with a comfortable atmosphere for food and conversation, this place is hard to beat.”