September 12, 2014 | Posted in:Dining out
Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month is in full swing and like many around Orlando, I’ve made my list and am checking off restaurant visits. Eleven in the Reunion Resort by Wyndham prepares contemporary steakhouse fare and affords impressive views from it’s rooftop perch.
Adjacent to the pool area, there are panoramic views from just about every table in the contemporary restaurant. The open kitchen is also visable from the dining room and the enticing aromas tempted us throughout our meal.
Chef Etienne has taken over the helm and is putting his spin on this classic steakhouse menu. The Magical Dining menu is a nice sampling of items offered on the regular menu at Eleven.
Strawberry & Mandarin Orange Salad Mixed Greens, Caramelized Pecans, Sundried Tomato, Goat Cheese, fried carrots and Raspberry dressing. This is a flavorful salad, with the fried matchstick carrots lending a very pleasing texture and unexpected sweetness to the dish.
Fried Calamari served with Sun-Dried Tomatoe Aioli. Tender, crisp fried calamari were nicely complimented by the tasty tomato aoili. This generous portion is easily sharable.
Moving on to entrees, diners can choose from three entrees. Organic Tanglewoood Farms Chicken with Citrus Braised Kale, Havarti Polenta and Tomato demi. The substantial portion of tender chicken was served on top of creamy, cheesy grits. The Citrus Braised Kale was delicious, everyone at the table loved this preparation!
Grilled Hanger Steak with Whipped Potatoes, Haricot Verts and Chimichurri arrived at the table cooked medium rare and ready to please. Those in search of a nice steak will be very happy with this satisfying dish.
Bourbon Glazed Salmon with Sweet Corn and Bourbon Saute had lots of flavor in every component. The Bourbon glaze hit the right balance of bourbon and was a heavenly addition to both the tender Norwegian Salmon and the bacon, corn saute. (For those non meat eaters, the kitchen is happy to accommodate requests and can make the saute without bacon.)
Magical Dining desserts showcase the talents and palate of the in-house pastry program. Each of the ice creams, gelatos and sorbets are made onsite, from scratch. The pastry chef created fresh and balanced fruit sorbets, the flavors regularly rotate. I hope the mango or blackberry sorbet are on the menu when you visit. Both tasted of the seasonal, ripe fruit that was used to create the refreshing finishers. Gelato was equally pleasing, the vanilla complex and the chocolate impactful.
Diners may also choose to enjoy the classic Creme Brulee, richly vanilla flavored with the signature crisp sugar crust and topped with fresh berries.
Parking is complimentary and if you book your reservations thoughtfully, you will enjoy all of the Disney fireworks during or after your meal. Fireworks usually start around 8 and end around 10 in the various parks.
Enjoy the breeze and a rooftop view, preferably with one of Eleven’s well crafted cocktails. I enjoyed a classic French 75 from the “Historic” offerings and sampled a sip of the Perfectly Peach Manhattan from the “Modern Interpretations”, either are a lovely way to start or finish your meal. Those who visit Eleven during magical dining will receive a voucher for a complimentary appetizer on a return visit during the month of October. Reunion Resort is also participating in Visit Orlando’s Magical Nights promotion, where an overnight stay and Magical Dining dinner for two at Eleven is $225.
Reservations for Eleven may be booked online on OpenTable.com or by calling (407) 396-5290. For more delicious Magical Dining pictures, search #ElevenSteakhouse on Twitter and Instagram and be sure follow Taste Cook Sip at @TasteCookSip.
Disclosure: I was a guest in connection with a Magical Dining media event hosted at Eleven. No other form of compensation was received and the opinions in this post are my own. Cheers!
Lisa Wilk
Hello, I'm Lisa Wilk! I'm a freelance food, wine and travel writer, photographer and presenter based out of Orlando, FL. While covering local restaurants and food events in the #1 tourist destination in the US, I find endless cooking inspiration when dining out. You'll often find me in the kitchen putting my own spin on those elevated chef creations to enjoy at home and when entertaining. I have a love and enthusiasm for wine, wine education and wine pairing. Find me about town teaching and demystifying wine as part of the popular @TheTastyTrio in the popular Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Perfectly Paired program series I've co-developed. Taste, Cook and Sip along with me on Twitter and Instagram at @TasteCookSip and @WineChix! Cheers!
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Sherry
September 15, 2014
These photos are amazing! I’m definitely going to check out Eleven. I’m hungry now. 🙂
Lisa Wilk
September 15, 2014
Sherry, thank you so much! The meal was a delight, I hope you enjoy. The bonus of a free appetizer will have us back in October, too. That view!