The moment you walk through the doors of the Waldorf Astoria Orlando…time hits you. The iconic clock at the center of the lobby reminds you it’s time to unwind and savor the moment. No matter who you are, time is a luxury, and it should be well spent.
So, if you are in search of a special night out where your time —and money — will be well spent, the Bull & Bear is it.
Reimagined Elegance
First opened almost 15 years ago, the hotel has recently undergone a top-to-bottom reimagination, from its lobby to rooms, suites, restaurants, and Peacock Lounge. It’s still the resort we fell in love with more than a decade ago when my husband and I got married there – there is still that familiar smell that takes us back every time, but like us, it has grown up and into a more sophisticated and refined version of itself. And the same goes for its signature restaurant, the Bull & Bear.
We hosted our wedding reception at the Bull & Bear, so we were a bit sad when we heard it would be undergoing a renovation late last year. But all of those feelings of potential lost nostalgia disappeared when we experienced the reimagined version for the first time recently.
The space maintains its elegance, but the heavy, darker red tones have been replaced with lighter shades of green—a color often associated with harmony, balance, and money. It’s classy and comfortable, but at the same time, it maintains the weighty elegance and traditions that make you aware that you are sitting in a special place about to enjoy an exceptional experience.
The Food
Before we dive into what’s new on the menu, we want to reassure you that beloved menu items like the Fried Chicken, Pasta Explosion, and Chateaubriand for Two remain.
Fried Chicken may not seem like a dish you’d find at one of the top 100 restaurants in the United States (according to Open Table) and one of our favorite romantic steakhouses in Orlando, but let me assure you…it’s fried chicken as you’ve never tasted or experienced before. It’s a process that takes longer than a day to prepare, and, of course, the Bull & Bear is all about the exceptional experience, so the table-side preparation of this dish and many others is just a part of what makes this place so unique.
The New Additions
On this trip, we decided to try the new additions by chef de cuisine Juan Suarez — who happened to be out that night due to the birth of his new baby. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
We started with the Dry Aged Yellowtail Crudo which was light and bright.
A perfect way to start a meal. Next, was the experience of The Tomato! And when I say experience—it truly was. We were presented with a beautiful tomato, but this wasn’t any tomato. It was stuffed with the most delicious burrata and topped with white balsamic caviar and basil foam.
We then moved on to the highly recommended Carabineros Shrimp, a seafood paella dish like we’ve never tasted before topped with Carabineros Shrimp imported from Spain. The shrimp had the most delicate texture and flavor and was an absolute treat!
Since we were at a steakhouse and we prefer our meats cooked to different temperatures, we opted for the Chateaubriand for Two, which was sliced tableside and cooked a bit longer for my taste.
One of the new additions that caught by eye was the Insta-famous —The Baked Potato. This is also prepared table side and worth its weight of $100, topped with Petrossian Ossetra Caviar, Jamon Iberico de Bellota, Sour Cream, and Gold Leaf. You can absolutely split this among 2-4 people.
Cocktails and Wine
The bartenders at Bull & Bear continue to be exceptional – from an elegantly simple-yet-perfect martini, to new creations like The Monk (Fernet Branca, Green Chartreuse, Lemon Juice, Cane Sugar, Basil Dust), the mixologists’ pay incredible attention to detail.
And if you know (or want to know) great wines, the Bull & Bear has put together a remarkable wine collection encompassing both old world and new, from young to well-aged, made by both well-known wineries and also less-known hidden gems, at reasonable price points for whatever your budget may be. In particular, their selections of California, French, and Italian wines are just exceptional.
The Final Act: The Lemon
Again, not new, but there is nothing like The Lemon anywhere. It’s simply magic, and I can’t think of a better way to end a luxurious meal than with the cool, sweet, yet refreshing Lemon. It was another item from our wedding reception menu, and we couldn’t visit the Bull & Bear without ordering it. After all, it’s tradition.
A Time for Tradition
Tradition – that’s the beautiful thing about a restaurant like the Bull & Bear. It is a place where families can create lifelong memories they can revisit year after year. To this day, our wedding guests tell us our wedding was one of their favorite celebrations they’ve ever attended. It wasn't just the people who were there, but the food. And that was intentional. We know how strongly our memories are tied to tastes and smells, and it’s those senses that bring us back to treasured moments in time. It's exactly why we picked this place.
Even though the Bull & Bear has evolved, it’s still a place where we and families like yours can celebrate and savor special moments in time as you bond through elegant traditions, flavors, and experiences.
Our other favorite menu items you must try:
We’ve dined at Bull & Bear more times than I can count over the years because it is such a special place to us. This also means we have had a chance to taste many of the menu items. Here are more of our favorites:
- Starters: The Grand Seafood Tower (fun to order with a group), Lobster Bisque, Florida Farms Corn Soup, Wagyu Carpaccio
- Entree: Pan-Seared Sea Bass
- Sides: Lobster Mac and cheese
- Dessert: Chocolate Bar
How to Make a Reservation at Bull & Bear:
Visit BullandBearOrlando.com to secure your table. It’s a perfect date night and even a night out with family and friends in its beautiful private dining room. Our kids love splitting the Fried Chicken.
There is also a beautiful private dining space if you are hosting a special event, and of course, as I’ve mentioned, they can accommodate larger parties as we did for our wedding, and it was…as with every visit to the Bull & Bear…a time to remember.
*Originally published in the Sept/Oct edition of Orlando Parenting Magazine.